Speak Your Mind

By KARYL CICANESE

Everyone has become politically correct. Everywhere I go, people are falling all over themselves trying not to offend by changing traditions and practices and omitting words from our vocabulary.

Who am I to say what should and shouldn’t be used? However, I have the opinion that if people speak their mind all of the time, it gives me a better idea of who they are. I appreciate candor. I want people to tell me what they are thinking, and I like it when they tell me what they think of me. I respect someone who has the courage to tell it like it is. I give others the same courtesy.

Of course, it doesn’t change the fact I don’t care what people think of me as long as I’m comfortable with myself, but it’s a nice gesture.

We all want the right to assemble. We all want the right to disagree. We don’t want to be told what we can and cannot say. We have come to a point where we want to say the F-word during prime-time television, but we get upset if someone says the word fat. They are not fat, they are overweight, or obese. How does the word obese cushion the blow?I am not white, I am Caucasian. What are you trying to say? I look like a piece of paper, a paper plate or a snowflake? Now you are going to learn about tort laws.

Everyone needs to calm down. Changing our vocabulary isn’t solving the problem. Whereas the problem used to be insensitive people, the new problem is overly sensitive people. Throughout my life people have said things that have hurt my feelings; however, nowhere in the constitution does it say I have the right to not have my feelings hurt. Life just doesn’t work that way.

I take my lumps and on occasion I found some criticism to be valid. They used to call it constructive criticism, and a lot of us improved ourselves, our game, or our abilities because of it.

Now, if Billy doesn’t receive a trophy for playing a less-than-exemplary game, it’s discrimination. If Suzy doesn’t graduate with her class because she had too many dates, and, well, we’re back to tort law. You better not tell her she failed, but instead that she performed below her ability.

We are guaranteed the right to free speech under The First Amendment — at least for now.

Though there are words that I won’t say offend me, but rather say hurt my ears, I don’t want them stricken from our vocabulary. I can just choose not to use them, or choose not to be around others who do. However sensitive my ears may be, it has become less important to me than my right to speak my mind.

It is a slippery slope we are now sliding down. I have never stood on a street corner and protested anything, mainly because I don’t see where it has a high probability of accomplishing anything, except possibly the flu. But if you have a grievance with someone, or something, and wish to spend a day standing out in the cold to get your point across, I would hate to see the day come when that was no longer an option.

Here is the problem: That day is coming. It has already been set in motion. We are becoming sheep following the pack. We look to others to lead the way and tell us what to say and think.

The worst part about it is we are not being herded by big brother as much as we censor each other. Though the government plays a part, unfortunately, I think they are taking their cue from us. We are the ones complaining.

When did we all become so sensitive? What happened to “call me anything, except late for dinner?”