Since its conception, America has been a nation based on the ideals of free speech. The ability for people to express themselves is absolutely vital to development of a strong society, a fact realized acutely by our founding fathers. As the colonial Americas withdrew from their English counterparts, and the founding documents of the country were drafted to protect American rights, free speech took hold as the status quo, inciting a most extraordinary era of civil expansion.
The free expression granted to Americans resulted in some of the most flourishing periods of creative growth in the history of mankind. As soon as the people of America took hold of their natural right to expression, the world itself became an empty palette, ready to be filled with the incredible ideas of a bright young nation.
Yet however robust of a civilization may have been created, time still moves forward, and as we move further away from the genesis of the American dream, the ideals of free speech have begun to get lost in the fodder. As the world grows more chaotic each day, what with each school shooting and ISIL demonstration, and the need for sensible discourse has become as vital as ever, the diversity and courage which once characterized American reason has been abandoned instead for a culture of fear and correctitude.
America has been pervaded with a new expressive landscape, a frightening one dominated by the beast known as “political correctness”. Political correctness (or PC, for short) has become the white elephant in the room of American interaction, serving as a tight muzzle over the mouths of those who dissent from common beliefs.
From its most superficial roots, the idea of political correctness is actually quite innocent in nature, presented as nothing more than a guardian of sensitive issues in our society. As the apparent sensitivity of America grows however, the rationale of political correctness becomes increasingly more slippery to defend.
A controversial idea, however sensible it may be, is still a controversial idea, and under a system of political correctness such thoughts are nearly impossible to articulate, due to the ostracization associated with dissent.
If the people of this country soon do not take steps to fight this quiet oppression, there could be many more insidious implications for the state of free speech in America. Although it has yet to reach a critical point – there is still some degree of free expression today, fortunately protected by the law – the road we are heading down is a dangerous one, and if change does not come soon, the free nature of our country could be flipped upside down.
One advocate of this issue who has been especially vocal is Dr. Ben Carson, a former neuroscientist who is also quite active in political fields. As said Carson famously in his address at the National Prayer Breakfast two years ago, “political correctness is a dangerous thing… it muffles people. It puts a muzzle on them, and at the same time it keeps people from discussing the important issues as the fabric of their society is being changed.”