The term politically correct is all over the media, but through the history of the term’s usage it has meant a lot of different things. One of the first mentions of being politically correct came from Mao’s little red book and was used to summarize the list of views and behaviors deemed appropriate or correct for the citizens. Chinese citizens, who at all disobeyed the rules, or were politically incorrect in Mao’s view, could be punished by death.
In Mao’s time, radicals in the US thought the idea of political correctness was outrageous because it signified the unjust government restriction of freedoms. Later in history however, the term was used by certain leftists to describe a vocabulary one should use in order to respect all peoples and avoid being offensive to anyone. Being inoffensive is good to some extent, but trying to avoid every word that has some negative connotation or any kind of pizzazz attached to its meaning sacrifices the emotional aspect of language. You might not be killed for saying the wrong thing today, but political correctness remains a way to control and restrict.
Political correctness is a verbal weapon used to censor the opposite party. It can be used to oppress your opponent in two ways: either by calling someone politically incorrect or by claiming someone is too politically correct. I want to showcase these two instances through two different contexts: at universities, and in the political world. Since political correctness is typically a liberal practice in the pursuit of social change, PC culture is commonplace on the campuses of small liberal arts schools, enforced by wanna-be activist college kids.
I disagree with the term politically correct because it assumes one view is the correct view, which isn’t exactly an invitation to open dialogue. College should be a time when you are exposed to new ideas and shocked by views that you don’t agree with. I want to be rattled; overwhelmed by the diversity of opposing perspectives. Not only does political correctness negate debate and discussion, it is often used as a weapon. Political correctness assumes that there are universal truths, that one view that is ultimately the best and most correct. This sentiment maintains its power by bigoting anyone who holds an opposing view. If a person learns the ‘correct’ view they don’t need to think or have opinions of their own, AND they can bully others into silence by reminding them they aren’t being politically correct. Today there is no longer a need to defend one’s view, as long as it is politically correct.
The opposite example is showcased in politics, particularly by Donald Trump. Trump activates for outrageous, wildly offensive, and oppressive changes to ‘make America great again.’ He will say something like, ‘this might not be politically correct but…’ all Muslims should be banned from the country, or we should send all the Mexicans back. Calling someone too PC is the opposite of calling someone politically incorrect, but has the same effect: taking away a person’s right to disagree. An article from the Washington post says the term is often “used as a put-down, a way to brush off the offended person as being overly sensitive. So while Trump is asserting his right to free speech, he is at the same time calling into question the listener’s right to complain about what he’s saying.”
I don’t think political correctness should be used in either instance, instead we should explore the opinions of others when we are shocked or even appalled by them. Some people are bigots, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting to understand the logic behind their views. If they can’t explain themselves, then you can write them off. It is close minded to assume that your view is a universal truth only because your opponent seems outrageous and bigoted, and after all, open-mindedness is what liberalism is supposed to be about! Without an open mind or the ability to challenge your own opinions, you are just as ignorant and outrageous as all the racists and sexists in the world. Opposing bigots doesn’t mean you own the truth.
