I grew up in Massachusetts, one of the most blue, left-wing, liberal states in the country. I grew up in a household where I was taught that kindness gets you far in life, and words can hurt. I went to a high school with one of the biggest Gay Straight Alliances in the country. This helped people around me learn how to respect, acknowledge and accept people of all differences. I was taught about rape culture and how it destroys the emotional well-being of the victims for sometimes the rest of their lives. I was taught to be nice to people and to try my hardest to make people around me feel safe and included. Trust me, at times it is hard, but for the most part, it is how I live my life. I was taught to be politically correct. But a lot of people weren't.

Now I know what you're thinking. Once someone sees the words "politically correct," a plethora of opinions come out to play. I acknowledge the differences people have about being PC, but I am here to have those people think about what it actually means.

Even though I live in Massachusetts, it doesn't mean I live in a bubble where I am exposed to only liberal thought. I see things on Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms that call out Americans for being offended about everything. I am not kidding, these posts get thousands of retweets and navigate through the media like fire. Don't believe me? Here are just some examples.

I do agree on some level that some people are drastically finding ways to be offended by certain things. There are always going to be people who take advantage of things. However, there is something to say about trying your hardest to be nice to each other. A lot of the people against political correctness believe if you are giving people "safe spaces" and calling them by the names they prefer, they will never be subdued to the reality of the world. That in giving someone the feeling of safeness and comfort, we are somehow harming the country. No matter what, people are going to be exposed to the real world. They will face things everyday that aren't easy. However, by being politically correct we are making the world a safer, more peaceful place to live in for people. Who wouldn't want that?

I will not say words that will trigger someone's harmful experience with rape. I know how much people will appreciate that. I will always call someone by the pronouns they prefer, because calling them by their birth pronouns would emotionally harm their transition. I will never use the word retard, because I know people struggling with disabilities every day. I will never use the word faggot because of the harmful implications and the people I know who worked too hard to be called an oppressive word. I will never call someone by the "n-word" because of the history of discrimination. These people don't deserve anything less.

At times, I might say something that might not be politically correct. But I will learn. I will try my hardest to make people feel comfortable in the world they live in. America is so used to using freedom of speech as an excuse for foul language. Political correctness is more than just the freedom of speech. It is living life by being kind and respectful to everyone.

'Merica. Take that, Cloyd Rivers.