In today's ever-changing world, communication is constantly evolving. With new inventions and the technological revolution, our language is continually growing larger and more complex with increased jargon and new idioms. At the same time, much of our vocabulary tends to become obsolete and, in turn, our language is becoming more limited in certain areas. A great amount of this limitation and is a result of a current wave of political correctness. This new trend of speaking and writing "PC" is compromising our language and putting effective communication at stake. It has become an almost self-censorship, forcing individuals to manipulate their true thoughts into those which will not be found offensive to others. It is hindering our entire society's freedom of speech and challenging our first amendment right. How can a movement which challenges our basic freedoms be seen as positive? George Orwell foretells of this tragedy in his book 1984. Even though this book is purely fiction, it brings insight into the idea of political correctness, describing an extreme case of self-censorship. Also, political correctness is hindering literate creativity. The media is now feeling pressure to write politically correct in order to fit in with the times. This, in turn, is restricting the types and variety of articles that are seen published, limiting the information the public can access. This misfortune has even spread to our universities seen in the form of speech codes. This leads one to question how can such a powerful and seemingly harmful movement, as it controls our freedom of speech and creativity, be seen as so beneficial. How can one idea carry so much power over our well educated society?
Political Correctness is a new wave of thinking which is especially in vogue right now. Its definition is still somewhat foggy and disagreed upon. One author, Morris Dickstein, describes what PC is not. "Political correctness is not a concern for equal treatment of blacks, women, homosexuals, Native Americans, and others who have been subjected to blatant discrimination," (Dickstein 542). This is a popular definition which is sadly incorrect. Another misconception is that political correctness is a "form of orthodoxy and intolerance," (542) stemming from liberalism of the sixties. This too is incorrect. It has gained a very negative connotation since its effects are now being witnessed for the first time. Political correctness more recently has been viewed "a form of group think fueled by paranoia and demonology imposed by political or social intimidation," (543). The fact that PCness, realistically, is a mass craze of our time is what makes it so frightening. It is fast spreading across our nation. It has been compared to "liberal McCarthyism", by Hilton Kramer (543). This trend had also especially been seen at college campuses around the nation. Professor Alan Kors describes the scene at a major university in New York, "In certain respects the University of Pennsylvania has become like the University of Peking". A Harvard Professor, Stephen Therstrom, again says "It is more frightening than the old McCarthyism." This idea is also upheld by an Oberlin professor, Weisberg, observing that "These people behave like Hitler youth," ( Frith 43). These professors believe that it has become a modern day brainwashing, molding the ideas of our youth and forcing them to conform to the so-called right opinions. But, political correctness is not a mere fad of our teenage society. Its impact is being witnessed far beyond college campuses. It is challenging our right to freedom of speech. It is also questioning our ideas of creative literature and media coverage.
The first amendment guarantees one's right to freedom of speech. The jurisdiction of this promise is often debated as well as is its place in our society. Political correctness is constantly challenging our freedom to say as we please. "The first amendment was not adopted to protect popular or majority thoughts...it as specifically written to protect the right of people to say whatever they want, no matter how unpopular or politically correct" (34 Overby) Yet, this sentiment is not necessarily holding true. It is curving what are and how we say our beliefs. Todd Githin remarks, "the long overdue opening of political initiative to minorities, women, gays, and others of the traditional voiceless has developed its own methods of silencing," (544 Morris). This is seen as our societies' speech is now often self-censored. We begin to speak but then revoke thinking, "that doesn't sound very politically correct...we wouldn't want to offend anyone." This self-censorship is described in a extreme fictional case in George Orwell's novel 1984. This novel warns against the evils of mass thinking and describes a world in which all ideas are monitored by a band called the "thought police". They are able to see into one's mind, exposing their true beliefs. This results in the stifling of ideas and a lack of protesting. But, this story also brings insight into our modern-day tragedy. Political correctness has seemingly installed a member of the thought police into all the minds of our society, obstructing and filtering the ideas which we hold true. This is exemplified by, Simon Frith, as he mockingly says, "I know it's not politically correct but I like Guns N' Roses, fur coats, veal and Sylvester Stalone" (43 Frith). He goes on to say that "thanks to an obsessive misguided 'sensitivity' to people's feelings, anything that smacked of racism, sexism, or, indeed, any other ism could no longer be said" (43). This exemplifies the notion that speech as we know it will never again be the same. It now understood that freedom of speech only means freedom of speech when it doesn't hurt anyone's feelings. Political correctness is changing the way we view each other and it is limiting the ways in which we communicate.
The PC trend is also seen as it has also promoted the imposition of approved speech codes at many colleges, again, straight out, impeding freedom of speech. They have censored what may or should be said about groups, "victimized by past discrimination," (275 Wrong). This directly challenges the speech rights of those attending these universities. Overby writes, "Journalism school deans and professors are cozying up to speech codes and valuing politically correct speech above free speech" (44). They are unwilling to stick up for rights that may not be in line with the popular view. "Unpopular speech often is repugnant and irresponsible but it is -or should be- protected by the First amendment" (Overby 44). Unfortunately, the PC trend is aiding in the compromising of free speech, validating the stifling of ideas in order to save the feelings of groups frequently discriminated against.
Not only has our first amendment right been challenged by political correctness but our freedom of creativity had also been questioned. This is seen today in media coverage. The press is feeling the pressure to conform to the new trend in our society as well. Brennen explains that the recent "PC scare", or realization of the effects that political correctness has on our society, is not due to "stalinoid dreams" by progressives, but it is surfacing because "the press is not free," (28). It is also afraid to say what it thinks, manipulating its ideas to fit the PC image. This in turn, censors the information that the public is allowed to receive. Peter Shaw, in his article in National Review, says, "In a politically correct world, in short, the search for reasonably persuasive representations of reality is going to remain a discouraging one" (63). He cites an example of this word twisting conformation by the media. When attempting to describe the "day's murder by a deranged drifter" it is reported as, "The killer is a 'Mr.' Jones, unfairly forced out of his lodgings several years ago, and since then repeatedly denied employment by indifferent, rapacious capitalists" (63). This is one example of the impact that political correctness has had on the media. It demonstrates the lack of conciseness and the in accurateness which has been accepted due to this popular trend. This distorted picture is passed onto the public resulting in a lack of information to society.
Political correctness is now, more than ever, a commanding force of our society. It has become so powerful that it is affecting the way in which we think and express our ideas. This trend, which may have been looked upon as beneficial, is now being questioned for various reasons. It is limiting our speech and challenging our first amendment right. This is exemplified through such policies as imposed speech codes at universities. Also, the peer pressure to be PC is creating a sort of self-censorship, as we have learned to filter our speech into what is seen as acceptable by society and its need to be politically correct. In addition to the compromise of our speech, our societies information is being censored as a result of the media's adoption of political correctness. Many of our vital forms of communication are being distorted by this craze, often compared to McCarthyism, called PC. Poltical Correctness must now be understood by all so that it will no longer cause harm to our society, only giving protection, fulfilling its intent from the start.