Topic


Political incorrectness is necessary in various types of media and continues to occur in today’s society.  More specifically the focus will be on the ‘N’ word, and its effects on people of colour in North America, and the specific ongoing case regarding the semi- ban of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, in Nova Scotia.  Over time racial slurs, such as the word ‘nigger’, have been written in numerous works of literature, and spoken on television and in classrooms, and have caused tremendous uproar regarding political sensitivity to language.  I will take a closer look at to why the ‘N’ word is perceived as derogatory, when it is usually used to enhance conversations and help develop the plot and convey deeper meaning to classic novels.


 


Arguments


What is political correctness?


To Kill a Mockingbird


The Ken Hardy case


Bill Maher


 


Essay


Using politically correct language has become a necessity in this modern day in age.  The hypersensitive public will take offence to any upsetting language including racial slurs that were not meant to be demeaning.  A prime target for censors to aim for is racism, which is a type of discrimination or prejudice based on a person’s race, nationality and/ or appearance.  The public’s hypersensitivity to words that sting; including the ‘N’ word, has caused controversy, leading to book bans in Nova Scotia regarding classic pieces of literature, including  Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, and throughout television and classrooms.  Because of hypersensitivity, classic novels have been challenged, censored and removed from school’s and libraries, job’s have been lost, and the public cannot understand the context in which a word is used, is not meant to be demeaning.  The impulse to censor never dies, it just changes targets.  In one generation it defends the young against blasphemy, in another it saves them from pornography, and in this generation, it shields them from being upset.


 


Political correctness is a term used to describe language or behavior which is intended, or meant to be intended, to provide a minimum of offense, particularly to racial, cultural, or other identity groups.  Political correctness implies censorship and endangers free speech by limiting what is in the public discourse, especially in universities and political forums.  However, terms such as inclusive language and civility are often used to praise language that is seen by others as “politically correct”.  Those who use the term in a critical fashion often express a concern about the dilution of freedom of speech, intolerance of language, and the avoidance of a discussion of social problems.  Freedom of speech is an important part of our society, and our society must be free to speak and free to disagree on viewpoints without repercussions.  Political correctness is destroying society’s freedom of speech and worsening racism around the globe by banning anything or anyone that may imply racism or simply offends anyone. 


 


            To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, is a prime example of a classic novel being censored and even banned in Nova Scotia because it contains the ‘N’ word.  The novel is timeless story of a lawyer, Atticus Finch and how he defends the real mockingbird -a black man charged with the rape of a white woman.  Through the eyes of Atticus’s children, Scout and Jem Finch, they explore with honesty the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930′s. The use of the word nigger in To Kill a Mockingbird, is not used in an offensive manner but as the everyday spoken language of the characters. 



  • The Ken Hardy Case.


 



  • Bill Maher.


 


 


Outcome


The outcome of my thesis and arguments will be that the public is much to hypersensitive to language, and political correctness should not interfere with literature, media, or education.


 


 


 


 


Works Cited


 



Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com


0 comments:

Post a Comment

 
Top