Being Politically Correct

Although being politically correct appears to be good on face, the concept can be weaponized in an attempt to halt unwanted discussion. A highly regarded professor from Harvard was ultimately forced to stop offering his class "Peopling of America" due to its focus on racial issues. (Taylor, 198). Although the Harvard professor was teaching the same course that he has for years and clearly included all sides of discussion, a group of students claim of the professor being politically correct terminated the course. The fear that lies underneath the concept of being PC is enough for administrations to back down and surrender to any claim that may hurt their reputation. For universities that decide to continue with curriculum that includes race study, negative modifications are still being made to the course work. Universities are forcing "intellectual conformity" by requiring students who are not considered to follow politically correct mindsets to take courses to alter those thought patterns. (Taylor, 201). Schools such as Stanford, Pennsylvania, and the University of Wisconsin have all adopted measures to use "oppression studies" courses as a form of mindset alteration for students who are considered to think incorrectly. The reason this is harmful to students is best expressed by Alan Kors when he says, "If you sensitize people from day one to look at everything in terms of race and sex, eventually the will see racism and sexism at the root of everything." (Taylor, 213). When individuals perceive racism and sexism as the root cause of all conflict, they begin to take actions to limit their own freedoms without even realizing what they are doing. (McKay, 27). This was demonstrated at Yale when an English professor called for an emphasis of commonality over differences in communities. The Yale freshman, assuming that discussion of race is the root cause of most conflicts proclaimed the professor to be racist and promoting negative ideals. (Taylor, 214). These students truly believe that they are fighting for the good of individuals in society, when they are in fact limiting their own freedoms unknowingly.