Political Correctness
Political CorrectnessThe recent trend to “Political Correctness”, that is, neither saying nor doing anything that might offend anyone else leads to a society in which everyone is alert to the possibility that someone might be offended. People start to attempt to seek out the slightest gesture of word or deed that they may consider to be an attack and attacks, perceived or real, lead to hostility.
It is a difficult enough position for two people in a marriage to not offend the other when they each know the other’s sensitivities. It is an impossibility to extend this to groups of people whose members have different political, social or religious backgrounds.
The attempt to be politically correct requires that people say things that they don’t exactly mean to prevent injuring the sensitivities of others. The other responds likewise with a statement that is not quite as clear as he meant it to be for the same reason.
The result of this is that neither understands what the other means. In short, they are speaking different languages which leads to confusion and can worsen the situation.
The people of the US have arrived at the point in politics and personal relationships where everyone is attempting to not offend or not be offended to the point that they are not listening to what is being said but are looking for reasons to become offended.
