The Act Of Being Politically Correct Has Gone From The Sublime To The Ridiculous
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Society -> subcategory Other.
From Thoughtful to Absurd: The Evolution of Political Correctness
Overview
Once a marker of kindness and consideration, political correctness has evolved into a mandate dictated by Hollywood and political elites who have taken it upon themselves to define right and wrong.
Once About Consideration
Political correctness originally encouraged us to speak and act with regard to others' feelings. Now, it's about conforming to standards set by the entertainment industry and certain political groups.
The Shift in Celebrations
- Christmas: Although it's a legal holiday celebrating the birth of Christ, saying "Merry Christmas" has become politically incorrect. Instead, "Happy Holidays" is encouraged, supposedly to avoid offending non-Christians and atheists.
- Retail Adaptations: Many stores now advertise "Holiday gifts" and play generic holiday music, avoiding any mention of Christmas. This seems to prioritize not losing customers over respecting Christian traditions.
Language Rebranding
- Professional Titles: Janitors are now "custodial engineers," and garbage haulers are "sanitation engineers," despite lacking engineering degrees.
- Cultural and Physical Descriptors:
- "American Indians" are now "Native Americans."
- "Deaf" becomes "hearing impaired."
- "Blind" is now "visually impaired."
- "Fat" is referred to as "weight challenged."
- Animal and Academic Terms: Pets are "animal friends," and students who struggle are "mentally challenged."
- Further Examples:
- "Orientals" to "Asians."
- "Anno Domini (AD)" to "Common Era (CE)."
- "Prisons" to "Houses of Corrections."
- "Illegal aliens" to "undocumented immigrants."
Holidays and Traditions
- American Celebrations:
- "Merry Christmas" has turned to "Happy Holidays."
- "Happy Thanksgiving" morphed into "Happy Turkey Day."
- Even "Valentine's Day" is being called "Friends Day."
Sensitivities and Controversies
- Religious Contexts: The phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is avoided to not unsettle atheists.
- Hypocrisies in Humor: While celebrities mock politicians like President Bush, similar humor directed at them is considered offensive.
Cultural Fragmentation
- Ethnic Labels: The trend of hyphenating identities (e.g., African-American) divides rather than unites us as Americans.
- Identity Overlap: If humanity began in Africa, arguably everyone has African roots, complicating ethnic labels.
Conclusion
Political correctness, when taken too far, becomes absurd. It's important to be considerate and empathetic, but maintaining individuality and independent thought is crucial. Don’t let others dictate your beliefs or expressions; kindness and understanding should guide us, not the prescriptions of the elite.
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