21st Century Sensitivity

The idea of political correctness came about in the late 20th century.  It started in universities primarily. Young students were encouraged to speak with a certain guard as to not be perceived as sexist or racist. Up until this point (with considerable reason) people were not terribly guarded in speech; at least not to the point that it is today. It was such an unusual thing that it prompted one journalist to write a story entitled “The Campus: An Island of Repression in a Sea of Freedom” in 1986. (Read The Article Here! < I really recommend it, it's a fantastic article)

“Elsewhere we are expected, like it or not, to attend to what Justice Brennan calls the “bedrock principle . . . that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable.”

Needless to say people were not thrilled about universities enacting certain “punishments” based on people’s verbiage. The whole concept seemed to infringe on first amendment rights. None the less the idea grew and spread; to the museums, workplaces, and the entire public and private sector.

Today, in 2013, it has become the norm for individuals to be slandered, attacked, and ridiculed for having a point of view that isn't consistent with social norms. Celebrities and public figures are at risk. It has gotten to the point that you are scarcely able to pronounce known facts without backlash.  For instance, as a white female I could be fired from my job for saying that black teens graduate at a much lower rate than white teens. This is a fact... but that no longer matters. If I say that the majority of black males don't take care of their kids I could be slammed by every civil rights activist from here to the other side of the world. But the sad truth is that single mothers in the black community is up to a staggering 70+ percent. 

What we have essentially done is take the idea of politeness and turned it into a blatant disillusion of what's fact and what's fiction in this world.  It isn't just a debate against race mind you. Everyone has chosen to be equality offended. You see we aren't allowed to say that men are on average stronger than women (They are). That will upset feminist. You can't say that the existence of Jesus Christ is not proven and unlikely (it is). That will offend Christians. Etc......

Basically what you have now is millions of people sitting around just waiting to be offended with complete disregard for fact. 

I understand that there is a substantial difference between cruelty and political correctness but my question is...have we gone too far in our definition of cruelty? 

So the next time someone states an opinion or fact that you are happy with think before you decide to lynch them. You may not know what has lead them to that conclusion. Instead strike a healthy debate or ignore it all together if it doesn't affect you. 

Let's stop burning people at the stake and acknowledge that they have beliefs and they are entitled to them. Everyone is guilty of this including myself. But if we change our mentality and stop allowing the media to launch violent smear campaigns against people for expressing themselves or their beliefs we all gain back a little of those rights that our forefathers fought so hard for us to have.