Why is it now desirable to be politically correct? For that matter, just who decided that people’s words and expressions should follow any specific set of guidelines in the first place? Truth be told, it’s no fun for speakers or writers to be required to watch every word they utter or put into print at all. In fact, it’s quite ridiculous.

Somewhere along the line, somebody took it upon themselves to assume that a set group of individuals may be sensitive and thus become offended by labeling. For example, it suddenly became inappropriate for American citizens of the Negroid race to be called black or for those that descended from original American culture to be called Indians. Dwarfs were now vertically challenged. Similarly, those with underdeveloped intellectual skills are no longer retarded, but mentally challenged.

Based on such philosophy, simpler, far easier labels have been figuratively thrown out the window. Why should those descended from original inhabitants of what is now the United States be offended if a sporting team names themselves after them? Should they not be honored and feel complimented instead? While on the topic, isn’t Indians a lot easier to say or write than “Native Americans?” At least the Washington Redskins and the Cleveland Indians have still held onto their logos. The point here, in regard to sporting teams in particular, is this: Getting offended by having an organization named after a group of people would be no different than animal rights groups getting up in arms for teams calling themselves the Bears, Cubs, Bengals, Jaguars, Tigers, Dolphins, Seahawks, or Panthers. Should those whose grandfathers were employed by meat-packing plants demand that Green Bay, Wisconsin’s NFL team change their name?

Of course, there are certainly derogatory and offensive labels out there that are clearly inappropriate when describing many different groups of individuals. Anyone adequately educated will be familiar with some of these terms, and it is not necessary to make note of what these are. However, what is wrong with calling Caucasians white, Negroes black, or Asians yellow? Why does a person on crutches or confined to a wheelchair now have to be labeled as handicapped or disabled as opposed to crippled? Why is it now offensive to call someone that stands seven and a half feet tall a giant? Perhaps most ironic of all, thanks to a realignment of what is now regarded as an acceptable Body Mass Index, more people than ever are classified as being obese, but don’t you dare call anyone fat. They are rather plus-sized or full-figured.

Some 13 years ago at this writing, Bill Lind, a spokesperson for Accuracy in Academia, stated that political correctness is an ideological disorder that is essentially a form of Marxism, and this assessment is quite accurate. When people become fearful of repurcussions for saying or writing what they wish, this is a form of Big Brother-like control. While Lind’s 2000 article focuses on the college campus level, anyone being required to adhere to such violations of personal liberty is affected. A more simplistic definition that says it all can be found here. Harsh as it may be, it nevertheless sums this phenomenon up quite nicely.

As such, this author will continue to ignore such draconian policy. If a person is of African descent, he or she is black. If someone is of Native American heritage, they are Indian. If an individual holds the body dimensions of a Volkswagen Beetle, then he or she is fat. Tom Thumb wasn’t “vertically challenged.” He was a midget! If somebody holds an IQ of 60, they are mentally retarded, not “developmentally disabled.” If someone wishes to light up a cigarette in front of nonsmokers, then so be it.

A few short decades ago, nobody had a problem with any of these issues.The people of the United States of America need to lighten up. Live and let live, as was once said. No matter what words are uttered or written, no matter what label one decides to give something or someone, there will always be another waiting in the wings to become offended. In short? You simply cannot please everybody, and trying to do so becomes a fruitless endeavor.

Political correctness needs to go away.