Being politically correct and not wanting to offend anyone is a slippery and dangerous slope when living in a time where everyone is so easily offended, especially college-aged students.
Phrases like, “America is a melting pot,” “I believe the most qualified person should get the job,” and “land of opportunity,” have all been labeled “microaggressions” by the University of California.
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“America is the land of opportunity” is offensive because it suggests “people of color are lazy and/or incompetent and need to work harder,” a UC faculty training guide says.
The move for universities to be “politically correct” is nothing new.
Earlier this year, students at UC Irvine voted to ban the American flag. Members of the student government said the flag has been flown in times of colonialism and imperialism as a symbol of American “exceptionalism and superiority,” and its display could be interpreted as “hate speech.”
Comedians including Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock say they won’t perform at colleges because students are too easily offended.
Seinfeld recently said that college students just want to use the words: ‘That’s racist;’ ‘That’s sexist;’ ‘That’s prejudice.’ “They don’t even know what they’re talking about,” he said.
Hypersensitivity about what is “politically correct” is not just limited to college campuses.
In the wake of shootings in Charleston, S.C., there has been a nationwide call to ban everything from the Confederate flag to the classic film Gone with the Wind.
In a recent interview, President Obama said our country is not yet cured of racism, it is ingrained in Americans as “part of our DNA that’s passed on.”
Whether or not the president’s statement is true, there is research that suggests Millennials may be more “pc” than older generations, especially with the recent trend on college campuses of labeling “microaggressions” and “trigger warnings.”
What will the future look like when a generation of uber-sensitive adults is leading the country?
Perhaps the Civil War won’t be taught in schools anymore because discussing slavery offends students.
Shakespeare is already getting the boot by some teachers because he is too white. Maybe Plato and Aristotle will be next.
Supposedly diversity is at risk if we offend these modern students. But are we actually losing the diversity of ideas by wanting students to only be exposed to agreeable language and ideas?
Students might need to develop thicker skin to handle the real world where phrases like “melting pot,” and “land of opportunity” dare to be used.
Or are we headed towards a world where these “offensive” phrases do not exist at all?
This article is from Red Alert Politics’ Campus Correspondent Program. Would you like to contribute a story from your school? Apply here to be a Campus Correspondent for RAP!
