The America we live in today is full of people who all of a sudden find everything offensive. I do not know where it came from, how it started, or why; but I do know that every day someone is accused of being offensive in some sort of way for expressing a non-offensive opinion. Granted, I am very aware that there are people in this country that really do things that are offensive towards other people. Please do not think I am that ignorant to think that there are no offensive people in this world.
But do I think this country is taking political correctness too far?
Yes, and here is why.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion and as long as that opinion is not truly derogatory or violent in nature then there is absolutely no reason it should be deemed as "offensive".
The beauty of this country is that it was founded on the ability to live however you want as long as you are not causing harm to anyone else. But the problem with that is people in the past few years have decided that the beliefs and opinions of others are somehow "harming" them.
For example a few years ago Phil Robertson, the founder of Duck Commander and star of the TV show Duck Dynasty, was ridiculed publicly for his disagreement with homosexuality. He did not shame anyone or use derogatory slurs, but simply expressed a disagreement. As old as this example may be, it demonstrates the point I am trying to get across best. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with something and disagreeing with something doesn't automatically make it offensive.
This is just a part of life. We will not always agree and the more we fight each others disagreements with accusations of being offensive, the worse this country is going to get.
What I think America needs to do as a whole is know the differences between what is an opinion and what is offensive behavior.
Owning a Confederate flag because you think it is a beautiful piece of the South's history is not offensive behavior. When you wave the flag on the back of your truck and drive around shouting racial slurs is indeed offensive behavior.
Telling someone that you do not agree with a confederate flag because you feel it represents slavery is not offensive behavior. Telling that same person that he/she is a dumb redneck is indeed offensive behavior.
Telling someone that not supporting homosexuality is part of your religion does not make you a bigot. Calling someone names for their sexuality and refusing to let them live a happy life most definitely makes you a bigot.
So do what you want to do, but if you own a Confederate Flag then don't get upset when someone tells you they don't agree with what it stands for, if you're gay don't get mad when someone tells you it's against their religion to support it, and if you're a logically thinking human being, don't get mad when someone refers to Caitlyn Jenner as a man.