Political Correctness: The End Of Intelligent Thought?
             Political correctness is a political ideology, nothing more. It cannot be correct unless it is linked to genuine transformation. First, I will examine the origins and causes of PC in an attempt to get a clear understanding of what this movement truly is. Second, I will examine the possible negative effects that political correctness can have on our society. And finally, I shall discuss why this cultural ideology is hindering the intellectual growth of our nation and promoting ignorance and self-indulgence.
             It is very difficult to put a definition to political correctness. It is a term widely but loosely used today; but it is too young a concept to have received the attention and standardizing influence of the dictionary editors. Therefore, it quite possibly has a different meaning for everyone using it. We can, however, look at some of the symptoms of what has been broadly labeled as political correctness.
             Among the most important rallying cries of the political correctness controversy is the word "victim". Initially the concern was about minorities. Minorities of race, gender or ethnic background who were subject to various forms of bias, harassment and general discouragement in a university setting that was dominated by the middle class white males of European origin. (The feminist movement chose the label Chilly Climate to describe the situation.) The notion of victimization soon grew, however, beyond this realm of human relationships, of treating people fairly and equally as human beings. Now it was moved to epistemology, with the argument that to be forced to adjust to ways of thinking and of organizing knowledge that reflected the values and norms of the dominant group, but not those of the minorities, was also to be "victimized", this time by an institution and a system. By logical extension, not to be allowed to study by your own group's way of thinking an...