Spring Break
Political correctness undermines our rights
Gabe Kovacs
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Commentary
Some more unnecessary political correctness comes from giving descriptions to people. The short are "vertically challenged," the lazy are "motivationally deficient," the serial killers are "persons with difficult-to-meet needs," and the list goes on. Not only do these phrases add lengthy words, they also desensitize the description. This places limits on people's ways of conversation because people don't want to be antagonized and ridiculed. They do better at discussion when they do not have to censor themselves in order to not offend someone.
Recently in news, it is now politically incorrect to say "illegal immigrants" or "illegal aliens" in the state of Arizona. This is one of the more absurd examples, seeing how these people are immigrants that enter the country illegally. It's obvious why a legal immigrant would get offended when described as an illegal alien, but does it matter when an illegal immigrant is described as an illegal? They are the ones who broke the law.
Most importantly, who has authority to tell people what they can and cannot say? Who has the right to silence people and keep them from sharing their voice with others? We are all born with basic rights, like the right to free speech. Yes, free speech can sometimes be negative, but there shouldn't be a law against negative speech. The government doesn't have a right to place limits on our rights. The Bill of Rights was created to protect American rights and limit the government so that these rights aren't impeded in any way. Political correctness is just another burden on the American rights.
Recently in news, it is now politically incorrect to say "illegal immigrants" or "illegal aliens" in the state of Arizona. This is one of the more absurd examples, seeing how these people are immigrants that enter the country illegally. It's obvious why a legal immigrant would get offended when described as an illegal alien, but does it matter when an illegal immigrant is described as an illegal? They are the ones who broke the law.
Most importantly, who has authority to tell people what they can and cannot say? Who has the right to silence people and keep them from sharing their voice with others? We are all born with basic rights, like the right to free speech. Yes, free speech can sometimes be negative, but there shouldn't be a law against negative speech. The government doesn't have a right to place limits on our rights. The Bill of Rights was created to protect American rights and limit the government so that these rights aren't impeded in any way. Political correctness is just another burden on the American rights.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
KH
posted 11/20/08 @ 3:24 PM EST
As a card carrying member of the ACLU, I can definitely tell you that PCdom has nothing to do with the first amendment. You don't like people not liking you saying certain things? You CAN still say them, and there's absolutely no penalty, it's just frowned upon by certain people. (Continued…)
Wendy
posted 11/20/08 @ 5:22 PM EST
Glad to see that others are FED UP with this oversensitive nonsense. Great commentary.
VS
posted 11/20/08 @ 6:49 PM EST
I agree with KH. I don't see how political correctness is limiting your free speech. Are the police knocking at your door with a warrant for your arrest for saying something un-PC? No. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 11/20/08 @ 8:03 PM EST
Policital correctness has noting to do with free speech. The right of free speech defends citizens against persecution from the government for their words. (Continued…)
Ivan
posted 11/20/08 @ 8:12 PM EST
This article is rubbish and not even true. Go ahead and call people slurs and whatever you want--that's protected by the 1st Amendment. But don't be offended I call you less than kind things back--I'll be enforcing my rights too. (Continued…)
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