The Generation of the Offended?

The P.C. Culture. We have all heard that phrase at one time or another in our life, usually to describe someone's distaste for a societal change occurring wherein it is becoming more "politically correct." We usually see this adjustment in the form of words and phrases being frowned upon or ways of doing things being outlawed or banned. A prime example pulled from current events would be the removal of the Confederate flag from the state grounds of South Carolina. That decision was met with much condemnation and anxiety concerning how weak of a measure it was and how soft the nation has become. That incident characterizes what I would call the strong reaction to actions calling for political correctness. The strongest voices I always hear are those criticizing it and condemning it. They characterize these measures or actions as weakening the nation and giving in to the whiners and complainers of the nation. But is that analysis true? Are we really weakening society by becoming more politically correct?

The inspiration for this discussion, in my own mind at least, came from Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' song "White Privilege II." The song is an eight minute discussion by Macklemore on how a white person feels about the amount of racial tension in society right now, but in a good touch he has weaved in a number of audio clips of people discussing racial tension. One of those clips always caught my ear whenever I was listening to the album. About four minutes in you can hear a young man quoted as saying "More people nowadays are just pussies. This is the generation to be offended by everything." No matter what I was doing, usually driving, that became the focus of my thoughts. Why did he say that? Has it gotten that bad? Is he overreacting?

Another champion of the cause against the P.C. culture is none other than Donald Trump. I don't think it is a stretch to say that he is the farthest thing from politically correct that modern culture can offer. His soundbites and barbs are by no means shocking anymore as we have heard his distaste for illegal immigrants, his distrust of islamic immigrants, and at times an extreme sexist nature in his treatment and discussion towards women. But all it ever did was drive up his poll numbers. How??? Because what Donald Trump has revealed is a torrent in the mainstream culture of people who are tired of "biting their lips" and "watching their every word." Trump exemplifies to them a voice in America that allows you to say what you want and not be afraid of being chastised for it. In their eyes he represents hope for an America where you can truly be free to express yourself in any way. Hell, I have friends who are only supporting Trump because he is so anti-PC. That has got to mean something right? But is that a good thing?

So I started my journey in examining that by going to the Merriam-Webster dictionary and looking up what political correctness means. Their resource gave me two definitions to think about. The first defines it as "agreeing with the idea that people should be careful to not use language or behave in a way that could offend a particular group of people." Go a little down the page and you will also see "conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated." I read those and began nodding my head. I can get on board with those ideas and ideals. But as with anything in life, theory rarely imitates itself in implementation.

If we examine political correctness at this moment in time, we see a lot of controversial debates and discussions being had. I've already highlighted one with the removal of the Confederate flag from the state grounds of South Carolina with a number of private entities following suit refusing to sell the flag. We have raging debates about how bathroom designations should be decided. We have "safe spaces" at colleges and universities now where students can escape if they feel they are surrounded by harmful phrases and actions. The LGBT community was also put in the center spotlight again with the discussion around Caitlyn Jenner and some of the downright scary commentary that was associated with it. If anything, this quick snapshot can show you that discussions around political correctness are controversial. They are not easy, and they are not quick discussions either.

A politically correct move is usually challenging a facet or ideal of society that many are going to want to cling to regardless and you know that is going to come with blowback. Let's just look at our examples again. The decision to remove the Confederate flag: it is a blow those who see it as a heritage symbol and a piece of cultural identity with the South. The discussions around Caitlyn Jenner and bathroom designations: it challenges the definitions and convictions as to what is a man and a woman. It honestly muddies the waters as to who is who and creates confusion around gender identity.

These PC discussions then really do challenge fundamental components of society and culture. They bring up issues full of tension, usually with a minority group looking for equal treatment or recognition of rights from the majority. If we look at it from that lens, you can envision politically correct moves as a means to provide progress. They are a way to provide inclusiveness to previously excluded groups and demographics, and let's be honest, all some people want is to be recognized and included.

It is on that tangent that I reconciled with myself that being politically correct is not a terrible thing, but actually one that exhibits progress. It exhibits levels of respect, concern for fellow man, and an ability to treat others equally. It shows that we as a society are ready to move forward, and most of the time ready to become more modern. To be more inclusive, to be more accepting, those are hallmarks of advanced societies throughout history. That same inclusion and acceptance is what drives people to come to your society. The more people who want to live in your society leads to more ideas, more perspectives. Progress, it all leads to progress.

But the battle is not one that will be quick or easy. It blew my mind that I went to read a number of articles about PC culture and the debate over political correctness and saw people still arguing in the comments section about the use of slurs long since abandoned by society. It is 2016, and there are people who still wish for a long gone time where you could refer to minorities by certain pejorative terms that drip of disdain and contempt without condemnation from society. A time when subjugation of the unknown and unfamiliar was possible through lack of acceptance by society. All throughout our history, we have dealt with society proclaiming certain groups as "undesirables." Throughout time it has transitioned from races and ethnicities to choice of sexual partner and gender identity. But no matter what, we have never stopped from allowing that undesirable tag to continue to be transferred and applied. Why? Why is that possible in the "greatest country in the world"?

It is simple, we lack perspective. People only read into issues with their own viewpoint and context in mind. They never have regard for how another affected group might feel about the issue. Let's go back to the Confederate flag example. The main dissenters I heard about the fiasco were always championing the notion of heritage and Southern culture as a reason for not removing it. I wonder if any of those dissenters ever asked a person of color in the South how they felt about that flag flying. That person could be angry, could feel annoyed that a symbol of the Confederacy, which mind you was the government that wanted to continue the practice of slavery, was still able to fly above a state building. Would a person of color possibly feel excluded from an establishment or place of business that flew that flag?

That is where the use of politically correct terms, phrases, and decisions is trying to stop this habit of exclusion and separation. The rise of PC culture is meant to make more people feel comfortable and safe with who they are in our society. Now I am a realist, and I know PC Culture will over-extend itself at times. Am I a fan of these college "safe spaces"? Not really at all. But as a whole I appreciate and embrace what political correctness is trying to do. It is trying to RESPECT others. It is trying to EMBRACE things that make us different. It is trying to INCLUDE all in our modern society. So if you feel PC is weakening us, watering down our society, or just isn't "cool", well maybe you are the one who should not be included in society. When we are talking about basic actions to respect others rights and their ways of life, yeah I am going to be on  board with that. So to the gentleman who uttered that line in the Macklemore song, yeah I guess you are right because you offended me with that line of thought. But me being offended reminds me that I am human, and that I am a progressive. At the end of the day I am not even going to disparage and yell at you like I really wish to, because one of the foundational reasons I support PC action is because I believe in the supreme rule I was taught as a kid "treat others the way you want to be treated." I want others to feel comfortable, to feel respected, and to feel included. I especially want those who have been neglected and forgotten in the past. So to that gentleman, keep feeling that way because you are certainly free to. The rest of us, we will be over here creating a brighter future for all to engage in.