Political correctness leaves a bad taste in your mouth.
It runs counter to the ideals we hold most dear in this country — particularly freedom of speech.
Freedom of speech has been repeatedly invoked to defend individuals at the center of major political controversies in recent months: see Rep. Todd Akin, R-Missouri, and his “legitimate rape” comment, Chick-fil-A COO Dan Cathy's Chick-fil-A drama or Democratic pundit Hilary Rosen’s spiel on Ann Romney.
But political correctness, in particular, offends certain individuals because it implies repression of free speech. Everyone dreads being taken to task for accidentally saying something politically incorrect, fearing the wrath of the "Politically Correct Social Justice League."
As soon as someone yells “offensive speech,” defenders of free speech fire back with various accusations of attempted censorship, accusing them of trampling all over the First Amendment in the name of tactfully neutral speech.
These sentiments illustrate the massive misunderstanding of the phrase “freedom of speech.” The First Amendment’s protection of speech is not absolute. There are several instances in which other concerns trump the right to free speech.
The case of public safety is clearly a concern of the government that may take various measures to protect. Speech that may incite violence may be restricted without violating the First Amendment, as well as in the case of libel, or the written defamation of an individual that damages his or her reputation.
Libelous speech is not protected, nor is obscenity. Although passing military secrets to an enemy during wartime may consist of “speech acts,” punishing those who commit treason may not claim free speech as a defense.
Politically incorrect speech obviously does not compare to treason or speech encouraging violence.
But those who equate political correctness to censorship are purporting a fundamental untruth and those responsible for that untruth tend to be conservative.
Political correctness is associated with left-wing politics, which is extraordinarily curious. I associate political correctness with another celebrated conservative buzzword: “personal responsibility.”
Government interference to free speech — that is, censorship — doesn’t have much to do with our choices to monitor our own thinking and/or speech about people who are different from us. Being politically correct is an individual choice to exercise caution, respect and tolerance.
If we are entitled to free speech, why should we expect such a freedom not come with certain responsibilities?
With the freedom of speech comes a personal responsibility to be kind and to be mindful with what we say. Free speech is our birthright as Americans, inherited from the countless men and women who have died in its defense.
Why should we cheapen those sacrifices just so we can inflame, infuriate and denigrate those with whom we disagree?
Reach the columnist at skthoma4@asu.edu or follow her at SavannahKThomas.
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