Political Correctness Is The Great Mirror Of Our Society
Political correctness is apparently to blame for the killing of 50 people in a nightclub in Orlando where at least 53 more people were injured. It is the worst mass shooting in the history of the country. Before this event, the deadliest shootings in U.S. history were at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, with 32 and 27 killed respectively.
Absolutely terrible. Here are things that should not matter but apparently do: The nightclub was a gay nightclub. The shooter has been identified as Omar Saddiqui Mateen, 29, of Fort Pierce, about 120 miles southeast of Orlando. He is an American, but of absolute priority he is a Muslim.
People point to political correctness as the reason why many liberals will not say terrorism involving Muslims are examples of “Radical Islamic terrorism.” I’m actually alright with the use of the term if we also use it for domestic terrorists of other religions. When we start saying “Radical Christian terrorism,” “Radical Jewish terrorism,” “Radical Atheist terrorism,” I think it would be appropriate to use “Radical Islamic terrorism.” Such terms are never even thought to be applied to terrorists of other religions and non-religions so why apply it to Muslims? What does political correctness have to do with it?
Political Correctness
Political correctness is defined as the avoidance, often considered as taken to extremes, of forms of expression or actions that are perceived to exclude, marginalize or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against. While it can be argued whether Muslims and gays are socially disadvantaged (I would say they are), there is no doubt that both Muslims and gays are discriminated against. That’s it. Political correctness is no more nor less than that.
A dead towelhead and a bunch of dead faggots? Could be worse.”
What’s wrong with this statement? Well, it’s bigoted for one as it shows both contempt for and hostility towards both gay people and Muslims. It’s also prejudiced for the shooter is an American citizen though he is a Muslim. This is the kind of statement that is the exact opposite of political correctness.
First Amendment
It’s all about freedom of speech and the right to say what you want right? Of course it is.
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
Can we point to political correctness as reasoning for Congress to making any such law? Has Congress even passed such a law? What people are objecting to is social rejection of their individual or collective thoughts, ideas and forms of expression.
Where is the Extreme?
If we want to reject political correctness in our society, what would that look like? Does anything go? Are we going to knock these sluts down a peg or two? Are we going to stop these wetbacks from taking our jobs? Can we finally do something about these banana peeling monkeys ruining the NBA? What exactly does a politically incorrect society look like?
The standard for society is indeed what it is collectively willing to accept. Losing friends, employment, prestige and status for being public with a declaration, belief or expression that slant-eyed gooks are never to be trusted is not the fault of political correctness. That’s people rejecting a declaration, belief or form of expression. Perhaps we should look at the rejection of those kinds of declarations, beliefs and forms of expression as a sign of progress within society as opposed to something that needs to be “cast aside” when we see fit.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar said it best:
Our country was founded on principles of inclusion, which means acting compassionately toward the many different people who make up our nation. Almost every group who immigrated to America was at one time the outsider — mistreated, abused and taunted. Maturity means not having to relive our mistakes of the past, but learning from them and doing better. Our country needs more sensitivity, not less.”
