Although the term political correctness has been around since 1912, the idea did not become widespread until the 1980s. The principle behind this philosophy, eliminating stereotypes, is certainly admirable, but its well-intentioned aims have morphed into ridiculous unspoken standards, resulting in modern society’s mortal dread of giving offense.
It has become socially unacceptable to say or do anything that might cause someone to feel a twinge of discomfort. This overly sensitive viewpoint permeates all aspects of modern life, from elementary schools to colleges to nursing homes.
Harmless terms like “old” have been supplanted by unnecessary buzzwords: senior citizen or chronologically gifted. These hyper-sensitive terms are crafted to erase all censure or blame in a group label. However, adding syllables to descriptions have not changed the way these groups are perceived. Rather, these politically correct phrases have drawn more attention to harmful stereotypes.
Vocabulary modifications, though, are not the only casualties of this avoid-offense-at-all-costs mentality. In an attempt to give children a multicultural education, which is apparently better than a traditional one, textbooks cover other civilizations exhaustively while giving short shrift to the founding of our own nation. In 2003, the University of Alabama banned all window displays, including American flags, so that no one would be offended. Fortunately, the ban was strongly opposed and soon retracted. These incidents, along with countless others, display the absurdity of modern political correctness.
How much history and tradition have to be distorted before the public realizes that this lunacy is destroying truth? Take the changes children’s textbooks have undergone. In an effort to further multiculturalism, the accomplishments of women and minorities are overly emphasized, while other important facts are downplayed, according to the Washington Times.
Or consider the new British national curriculum. According to England’s Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, students will “develop their ability to relate their understanding of science to their own and others’ decisions about lifestyles.” Actual scientific material in the books will be marginal. This curriculum is meant to encourage acceptance and raise sensitivities. But at what cost? The point of attending school is to learn; moreover, the point of taking a science class is to further one’s knowledge of science. When you remove the science, you no longer have a science class. The course has now become merely a lesson in political correctness.
This is political correctness gone too far. Indoctrinating students with this plethora of propaganda is akin to brainwashing.
In “Politics and the English Language,” George Orwell attacked political phraseology, comparing it to falling snow that blurs defined lines and hides details. He cautions readers to beware these deceptive expressions, stating that “every such phrase anaesthetizes a portion of one’s brain.” If you do not carefully guard your mind, you will be deluded.
Truth cannot be changed simply because someone does not like what happened. True, unfair events occurred and people were oppressed. Racism and cruelty were rampant at times. But the fact that the Founding Fathers were men or that Native Americans wore their hair in braids is neither sexist nor stereotypical; it is simply reality. Stating the truth is not perpetuating a stereotype.
Eliminating facts from textbooks or smoothing out the rough edges of history will never eradicate stereotypes. People facilitate stereotypes by choosing to exclude or think ill of others. A rich man who oppresses a poor man will also oppress a financially instable man. The rich man’s attitude does not change with the terminology.
Don’t get me wrong; I am not pro-insult or pro-stereotypes. Certainly, there were and are some truly offensive terms and stereotypes that need to disappear from our culture. However, changing history, lowering standards and erasing past traditions are not the means to this end.
Political correctness originated because people were oppressing others who differed from the accepted norm. Its advocates sought to break down stereotypes and prejudices. However, the hyper-sensitive culture that this philosophy has spawned now pushes the idea that differences are not OK. No, I take that back; differences are fine, as long as they are socially accepted differences. New norms have been created. We are encouraged to accept alternative lifestyles, different cultures and non-traditional viewpoints; however, new stereotypes have arisen to replace the previous ones.
According to the politically correct ethic, all religions are to be tolerated, except Christianity, a group of fundamentalists who shove their beliefs down people’s throats. All cultures and countries have the right to freely express themselves, except for those pushy, strong-willed Americans. What used to be normal is now laughed at as antiquated or insensitive.
We all have different ideas of right and wrong, good and bad, ugly and beautiful. It is impossible to create anything that cannot be found offensive in some way to someone. Truth should not be compromised for the sake of political correctness, modern sensitivity or any other such philosophy.