Political Correctness
Political correctness. A pleasant sounding phrase. It has become the buzz word on American campuses over the past decade. As acceptable a premise as any probably. It's become the bandaid for ills that might appear on a campus. In effect, political correctness defines all subjects that may be discussed openly on campus and conversely all subjects that cannot be discussed on campus without incurring college or university sanctions.
College and university administrators have chosen to allow political correctness to paper over the problems of racism and intolerance that occurred on campus prior to political correctness being adopted. The basis of political correctness is that if a subject is not labeled politically incorrect, it automatically adds validity to the subject. No need to examine the pluses and minuses of any topic, if its deemed politically correct, accept it as fact.
Politically incorrect subjects are now discussed in darkened hallways among those that believe or agree with one another and with no opposing view to provide the give and take of discussion. The politically incorrect subjects haven't gone away by banning them, they've simply gone underground.
And why have political correctness in the first place. Some might say to prevent having anyone say anything that might offend someone. In fact, it's more the case that colleges and universities fear that their students, faculity and administrators aren't intelligent enough to decide for themselves on any of the 'politically incorrect' subjects. The answers must be provided to them in the form of political correctness.
Political correctness has driven underground all discussions that some might consider objectionable. It has bankrupted any notion of intellectual discussion on most if not all campuses. The concept of a free discussion of ideas is no longer acceptable. One has to wonder what type of graduate our colleges and universities are turning out in this day of political correctness. Schooled in engineering, sciences and humanities yes, but bereft of any real understanding of humanity.
3/25/01
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