In a video posted on July, 22 2016 comedian Mike Ward was fined $42,000 for using a disabled child as the butt of one of his jokes. ("Political Correctness Gone Too Far? - Canada.") While it is easy to agree that Ward deserved to be fined for what could be seen as an attack on a child and a disabled person. On the other side comedians argue that political correctness and thin skin have had a negative effect on doing their comedy. This is understandable as comedy has always been a way to look at the flaws of society and people through humor. However, there seem to be lines that comedians should not cross. Making fun of a disabled child is one of them. Still, at what point does political correctness go too far.
Political correctness “refers to matters of inclusive speech, advocacy of nonracist, non-ageist, non-sexist terminology, an insistence on affirmative action policies, avoidance of Eurocentrism as reflected in a “Traditional” canon of literature, acceptance of multiculturalism as a valued feature of American society and dismantling hierarchy as controlled by a white male power structure.” (Hoover and Howard). Political correctness is basically an umbrella term for saying anything that may offend another person. However, it can be argued that political correctness has evolved into something where anything someone says can be deemed as offensive based on nothing more then a peripheral view that someone else does not like.
It can be easily agreed upon by most people that it is a virtuous thing to be culturally aware and sensitive. However, when one is demanded to suppress their views based on political correctness (Hughes). That is stepping on that person’s right to freedom of speech. While, this statement may provoke ideas of the promotion of “hate speech”, racism, sexism, etc. The fact is, none of those things are being promoted, rather the right to say them is, as Voltaire is attributed to saying "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" (Voltaire). Moreover, the 1st Amendment gives everyone the right to “freedom of speech” without exception, so this means that rather or not others like it or agree with it, the person has the right to say it.
The infringement on people’s right to “freedom of speech” is something that is seen on college and university campuses, and online forums. For example, in April 2016 UMass-Amherst students protested a forum called “The Triggering: Has Political Correctness Gone Too Far?” (UMass College Republicans) that was there to discuss rather or not political correctness was overstepping itself. Now, instead of the students of the school attending the forum and engaging in intelligent debate. The students began swearing, and name calling. This seems to be commendable behaviour from the PC police as long as no one else gets a chance to utter an opinion that differs from theirs (Lea). The totalitarian behaviour demonstrated by the PC police against anyone with the gall to voice an opinion that they do not agree with includes demanding that students, professors and administrators lose their jobs, celebrities and musicians find themselves fired from projects, etc.
Another problem with political correctness is that the labels that the PC community throws out to describe anyone who they disagree with. This disagreement can stem from a misconstrued comment, or a comment that was misrepresented, or even something as relatively innocent as a drawing. The problem is that the PCers like to throw out terms like bigot, racist, sexist, etc. with absolutely no idea of who the person is, based on an insignificant piece of evidence. This often times end up causing trouble in the person’s personal, professional life and even deriding all of the positive contributions the person had made in their life. (Gallagher).
Despite the fact that political correctness has arguably gone too far. Its original purpose to draw attention to and to promote and encourage people to be sensitive to the differences of others was a respectable goal. No one should ever be harassed because of their race, sexual preference, clothes, disabilities, mental disorders, being transgendered, their weight or their looks. Basically, if it is something that a person has no control over then it is wrong to attack it. That is why the 42, 000$ fine that was put on Mike Ward is completely acceptable because you do not make a disabled person the punchline to your joke. Nevertheless, while the concept of open-mindedness and tolerance that may be the intent of the PC police. Their application leaves a lot to be desired. The fact is when students discourage conversation about issues that they disagree with by name calling or demanding that the person shut up. They are doing a disservice to the people they are supposedly trying to protect. This has a negative effect on society as there are no real conversations regarding significant topics like gender issues, racism, sexism, homophobia, etc. because everyone is too afraid to voice their opinion. This does not help but hinders society’s social growth as certain sections of the population feels that their voice is being suppressed.
Another area that is affected by political correctness is literature. There are a number of books that have been banned from schools because people have decided that they are offensive. Classics such as Mark Twain’s “Huckleberry Finn” and “Tom Sawyer” because of the n-word and the depiction of African-Americans. The problem with this is by banning the books the schools are ignoring a teachable moment in which they can discuss racial issues of the past and today.
There are also the students who are demanding that everything has “triggers” (warnings) attached to it (Haidt and Lukianoff). This is prevalent in online writing communities such as Archive of our Own, Fanfiction.net and Tumblr. Trigger warnings even though they are often times extremely excessive are understandable. Especially given the fact that most of the stories on these sites are being written by people who have grown up in an era of political correctness. However, the demand for “trigger warnings” do not stop there. They want classics to have trigger warnings added to them, so that people who have had horrible experiences with sexual assault, violence, racism, etc. can be warned if the book contains anything that may cause them to relive the event (Haidt and Lukianoff). This is understandable, but where do the trigger warnings begin and end. In many of the warning that are posted on the online sites like Archive of our Own, writers warn of pairing, people being happy, and other things that many people would see as completely inoffensive. On Tumblr there was once an article or discussion about triggers where someone said that roses triggered them. Now how does a book warn for triggers like that.
Finally, even though political correctness as a tool to promote tolerance and understanding is respectable. This does not seem to be the true agenda of the individuals who are pushing it on others. It seems instead that they are trying to stifle free speech and any conversation that can grow out of varying opinions being expressed. This causes students to feel as though they do not have the right to express their opinions as to do so will cause them to be labelled in a negative manner, as racist, misogynistic, etc. No matter if they really are or not. The problem is students want to be shielded from anything that might express an opinion or idea that is different from theirs. They do not want to feel uncomfortable and find offense in anything that may cause them to have to think or analyze a situation or their behaviour.
Works Cited
Gallagher, BJ. "The Problem with Political Correctness." The Huffington Post. N.p., 27 Apr. 2013. Web. 23 July 2016.
Haidt, Jonathan, and Greg Lukianoff. "The Coddling of the American Mind." The Atlantic Sept. 2015: n. pag. Print.
HOOVER, J. D., and L. A. HOWARD. "The Political Correctness Controversy Revisited: Retreat from Argumentation and Reaffirmation of Critical Dialogue." American Behavioral Scientist 38.7 (1995): 963-975. Print.
Hughes, Geoffrey. Political Correctness: A History of Semantics and Culture. Maldon: Wiley-Blackwell, 2010. Web.
Lea, John. Political Correctness and Higher Education: British and American Perspectives. New York: Routledge, 2009. Print.
"Political Correctness Gone Too Far? - Canada." CBC News. N.p., 22 July 2016. Web. 23 July 2016.
UMass College Republicans. "The Triggering: Has Political Correctness Gone Too Far?" YouTube. N.p., 25 Apr. 2016. Web. 23 July 2016.
