Some people believe that choosing the right words and avoiding certain others when talking about human differences will solve the problem of racist; some just speak a certain way to avoid sounding racist; and others simply think that language alone will not solve the problem.
The use of certain words in a classroom or a conversation can make a lot of people feel uncomfortable. Generally, if someone decides to use words like hispanic, oriental or black to describe someone - independently from the context or the intention of the speaker - it gets people tense, because it is not politically correct.
Not only words, but even certain topics are simply not welcomed in everyday conversation, most people are too scared to bring certain topics to the table. People don't want to sound racist or offend people from a different race. But why is that?
According to SCC librarian Jonathan Betz-Zall, it's hard for many people specifically from the mainstream American culture to understand a politically correct approach because they don't understand racial sensitivity and the broader historical context of racism.
"It's easy to think you're not offending anyone because of the way the education system is set," Betz-Zall said. Generally an American history class will not recognize and analyze the problem of racism from the perspective of groups that have been discriminated against, and "you'll never be able to understand other groups because they're all mad with each other," he said.
Multicultural studies instructor Betsey Barnett, on the other hand, sees political correctness as "feeling compelled to represent a point of view that you don't understand."
According to Betz-Zall political correctness is a way of reducing racial offense, however it does not eliminate racism. "It just helps (interaction) by showing people a more positive way," he said.
Cecilia Martinez, program coordinator of the SCC multicultural center agrees with Betz-Zall in that political correctness by itself won't solve the problem. For example, someone may think "I can't call you a nigger, but I still have a negative feeling about you", or "I have a stereotype that impedes my perception of who you really are."
"It's empty as opposed to empathetic" Martinez said.
SCC student Mina Emperador thinks that political correctness has its pros and cons.
"I think it is good that there are values and morals so that there is no chaos," said Emperador. "But I think it's too censored. Things are being kept in silence"
Emperador says that racism still exists and that nothing is being done about it, because political correctness keeps it quiet. She mentioned gang fights and racial profiling by the police as examples of racism that are still present nowadays.
Political correctness can help interactions among people from different races, but "people are oversensitive," Emperador said.
For example "Dave Chapelle can make remarks of white people and everyone laughs, but if a white comedian was to make fun of a black person he would be shunned," Emperador said.
SCC student Shaun McGrath said that "the problem with political correctness is that as much as it does to lessen discrimination, it hampers free speech."
"Take religion for example," McGrath said. "When they banned the pledge of allegiance being said at my school in Oregon, it took away our freedom of speech to say the pledge of allegiance, it also took the other person's freedom of choice to participate in it or not."
"Being politically correct means keeping away from mentioning religious origins, ethnicity, etc... I think it's just a big mess and it should be thrown out," McGrath said.
SCC bookstore employee Ruth Young believes that people should follow their common sense and question their values and culture.
"I think that common values for one group are not necessarily the same for the other," Young said.
"If what is said is politically correct and it divides people, then that's not correct. So you have to question, not just accept something. It has to be as thoughtful process" Young said. "Sometimes I think it's carried a little too far, i think that basic decency, respect and common sense go a lot further than supposed political correctness."
Published in The Ebbtide January 18, 2010
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