The
movement of political correctness is harming America’s ideologies of individual
freedom and diversity. Whilst the intentions of political correctness (PC) seem
beneficial since it supposedly prevents offending any group of people, it is actually an
inhibition of free speech and the reversal of traditional American ideals. The very origins of PC demonstrate the hindrance
of America’s ideals of freedom and diversity.
Political
correctness actually has as totalitarian nature, since it originated with
cultural Marxism ideals. When the economic Marxist theory failed, a group of
Marxists banded together to create cultural Marxism. Cultural Marxism holds
culture instead of the economy as the site of class struggle. It concludes that
minority populations such as women, blacks and homosexuals will be the
equivalent to the proletariats (the working class) in economic Marxism while
the ‘superior’ populations such as men, whites and straights will be equivalent
to the bourgeoisie (the wealthy, upper class). It is significant to note that
this equivalent ‘working class’ are the groups today that are protected by
political correctness. There are a few Marxists that are the main contributors
to the ideas of a ‘quiet’ revolution that would destroy the current Western
culture in order to make way for a new culture of Marxism (Lukacs, 1971).
One
of the main contributors to this new Marxism was Antonio Gramsci, who formulated
the idea of a ‘quiet’ revolution that contrasted with the original violent revolution
of economic Marxism. It was his belief that human thought could be controlled
from within through the use of psychology. Manipulating human thought from
within would make resistance an impossibility because there would not be a noticeable
group to resist against. This approach is outlined in Charles Reich’s book when
he describes this upcoming revolution as one that “will not be like revolutions
of the past. It will originate with the individual and the culture, and it will
change the political structure as its final act. It will not require violence
to succeed, and it cannot be successfully resisted by violence.” (Reich, 1971).
This proves to be consistent with PC, as it evidently has wrongfully been
interpreted by Americans as a set of beliefs that are beneficial to society
when instead PC is ‘quietly’ harming it.
A
group of Marxists founded the Frankfurt School in 1923, and many fled from
Germany to the United States when the Nazis came to power in 1933. The
Frankfurt School worked towards translating economic Marxism into cultural Marxism
as well as embedding their beliefs into American society via universities. They
spread their beliefs through notions of ‘multiculturism’ and Critical Theory throughout
universities such as Columbia and Stanford (Dr. Gerald L. Atkinson, 1999) so as
to discretely spread their ideas. Critical Theory is a “social theory that
revolves around criticizing society as a whole and it was used to shed negative
light on Western culture. The Frankfurt School used Critical Theory to convince
Americans that there were flaws in their culture by relentlessly criticizing
aspects of prejudice within the culture. This lead to the creation and spread
of PC, which was to be used to remove prejudice between different groups within
Western culture.
Political
correctness was strategically integrated into the beliefs of the baby boomer
generation in the 1960s. The Frankfurt School took advantage of the large
opposition to the Vietnamese War draft. This opposition of going to war rivaled
the traditional idea that war was glorified. The School also took advantage of
the increase in university educations among the youth of this generation, since
the School intended to spread its ideas through universities. This generation
of Americans with beliefs tainted by Marxism is what the current generation has
been raised to believe. This has resulted in a rapid increase of political
correctness in the last few decades as well as a generation of grandparents who
no longer recognize what America is today. This is evident in the large
majority of older generations having more conservative and traditional beliefs
that are now labeled as racist and narrow-minded (PewResearch, 2014).
The
creation of a movement of political correctness that urges society to disengage
in social disagreement over non-negotiable differences between people result in
the demonization of those are politically incorrect.
Those who are politically incorrect are now punished either institutionally
(job termination/suspension, being put on trial, etc.) or socially (ruined
reputations after being labeled a racist, bigot, etc.). In other words, those
who disagree with the ideals of Marxists are punished. This is especially
effective for cultural Marxists who want to destroy Western culture because PC
harms individual’s freedom of speech by punishing those who choose to voice
their individual opinions. PC effectively levels the playing field between
different groups of people which aids cultural Marxists in destroying Western
culture in order to create their own communist culture.
Political
correctness is a problem in America because it limits the freedoms of
individuals which is a concept that the nation prides itself on. America
supposedly functions as a democratic nation but has been taking totalitarian
steps towards cultural Marxism beliefs through PC.
A possible solution would be to change the way Americans think about the corrupt multiculturalism belief system that is in effect today. Instead of continuing forward with these 'liberal' views that were actually products of cultural Marxism's plan to destroy traditional American culture, America should strive to regain its roots. The traditional values that America flourished on prior to the political correctness movement should be re-introduced.
Atkinson, Gerald L., CDR USN. "What Is the Frankfurt School." (1999): n. pag. Web. 30 July 2014. <http://www.newtotalitarians.com/index_files/FrankfurtSchool.htm>.
Lukács, György. History and Class Consciousness: Studies in Marxist Dialectics. Cambridge, MA: MIT, 1971.
"Millennials Less Conservative than Older Generations." Pew Research Centers
Social Demographic Trends Project RSS. PewResearch: Social & Demographic Trends, 5 Mar. 2014. Web. 31 July 2014. <http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2014/03/07/millennials-in-adulthood/sdt-next-america-03-07-2014-1-06/>.
Reich, Charles A. The Greening of America. London: A. Lane, The Penguin, 1971.
Self-Review
ReplyDelete1. What is the broader topic that the author proposes is a problem?
Political correctness is an aspect of social communication
2. How does the author define that topic? State that definition here.
Political correctness is a movement that was started by cultural Marxists that urges society to disengage in social disagreement over non-negotiable differences between people.
3. Is there a readily identifiable thesis statement which states the problem and reasons in a because claim?
Yes, the first paragraph.
4. How is the problem contextualized? (e.g. when the problem began, what has already been done regarding the problem, the consequences of the problem, etc.)
It began in the early 1900s, the problem has only expanded since it begun since PC has become more widespread and the consequences of the problem are spread throughout the nation. The short-term consequences involve a constraint of individual freedom of speech and diversity while the long-term consequences can result in communism.
5. Is the problem topic specific and located in the smallest possible category? (e.g. cats > feral cats on UF’s campus)
Yes
6. Is the problem unique? If the topic is popular (e.g. obesity, gun control, abortion), does the problem statement offer a new interpretation of the common problem?
The topic of political correctness is common but the interpretation that it is harming America’s ideology and may lead to Communism is unique.
1. What is the broader topic that the author proposes is a problem?
ReplyDeleteSocial communication is effective in influencing people’s ideologies.
2. How does the author define that topic? State that definition here.
The concept of political correctness inhibits free speech and opposes traditional American values.
3. Is there a readily identifiable thesis statement which states the problem and reasons in a because claim?
Yes, the entire first paragraph.
4. How is the problem contextualized? (e.g. when the problem began, what has already been done regarding the problem, the consequences of the problem, etc.)
The problem began in the early 1900s and has expanded since. The consequences of the problem are social punishments for freedom of speech, and eventually communism.
5. Is the problem topic specific and located in the smallest possible category? (e.g. cats > feral cats on UF’s campus)
Yes it is.
6. Is the problem unique? If the topic is popular (e.g. obesity, gun control, abortion), does the problem statement offer a new interpretation of the common problem?
Yes, the specific problem is unique.