Spring Break
Political correctness undermines our rights
Gabe Kovacs
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: Commentary
Citizens in America have rights defined by the American Constitution. Most of them are in the Bill of Rights, giving us the right to free speech, the right to bear arms, the right to religion, the right to a speedy and public trial, and the list keeps going. The one concept that infringes on these rights, mainly the right to free speech, is political correctness. Political correctness limits Americans' freedom of speech in the worst of ways.
Political correctness started in the 1980s. It was a proclamation that certain phrases, words and ideas were offensive and thus forbidden from public discourse. Political correctness laws were made to "protect the minorities." So far, these laws have proven themselves to be effective at what they were made to accomplish - minimizing the "offensive content" used in public.
That's a good thing, right? Political correctness keeps people from being offended and feeling bad. The world should be perfect, right? Wrong. Political correctness is like a wolf in sheep's clothing. It's a bad thing that only looks good on the outside. The bottom line is that it keeps people from exercising their freedoms and rights.
Obviously, political correctness is contradictory to the First Amendment. This is a limit on what can and cannot be said in public, which means no freedom of speech. But even when it's not a legal matter, political correctness has snuck into our speech by making even the most inane, well-meant phrases suddenly offensive. Political correctness has risen to absurd levels. It ranges from less ridiculous politically correct terms like "happy holidays," to calling a short person "vertically challenged," to saying that "illegal immigration" is politically incorrect.
The phrase "Happy Holidays" is used for all the late December holidays. Instead of saying "Merry Christmas," "Happy Hanukkah" or "happy (insert holiday name here)," "happy holidays" is used. To reassert, political correctness is used to avoid the use of "offensive terms." Now, would people really be offended if wished a "Merry Christmas" when they celebrate Hanukkah, "Happy Kwanzaa" when they celebrate Ramadan, or "Happy New Year" when they celebrate the Chinese New Year? Is it really necessary to say "Happy Holidays" to someone during the wintertime? No, it's not, because one person is wishing good times to another.
Political correctness started in the 1980s. It was a proclamation that certain phrases, words and ideas were offensive and thus forbidden from public discourse. Political correctness laws were made to "protect the minorities." So far, these laws have proven themselves to be effective at what they were made to accomplish - minimizing the "offensive content" used in public.
That's a good thing, right? Political correctness keeps people from being offended and feeling bad. The world should be perfect, right? Wrong. Political correctness is like a wolf in sheep's clothing. It's a bad thing that only looks good on the outside. The bottom line is that it keeps people from exercising their freedoms and rights.
Obviously, political correctness is contradictory to the First Amendment. This is a limit on what can and cannot be said in public, which means no freedom of speech. But even when it's not a legal matter, political correctness has snuck into our speech by making even the most inane, well-meant phrases suddenly offensive. Political correctness has risen to absurd levels. It ranges from less ridiculous politically correct terms like "happy holidays," to calling a short person "vertically challenged," to saying that "illegal immigration" is politically incorrect.
The phrase "Happy Holidays" is used for all the late December holidays. Instead of saying "Merry Christmas," "Happy Hanukkah" or "happy (insert holiday name here)," "happy holidays" is used. To reassert, political correctness is used to avoid the use of "offensive terms." Now, would people really be offended if wished a "Merry Christmas" when they celebrate Hanukkah, "Happy Kwanzaa" when they celebrate Ramadan, or "Happy New Year" when they celebrate the Chinese New Year? Is it really necessary to say "Happy Holidays" to someone during the wintertime? No, it's not, because one person is wishing good times to another.
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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