COLUMN FROM THE INTERN: Please take it easy on us – Detroit Lakes Tribune

Some say my generation has had it easy, and that thats made us soft. More easily offended. And I can't deny that. Many people, including me, are more sensitive or more cautious about what they say because they dont want to upset people.

But I ask you: Is that a bad thing?

Ashton Anderson

(I apologize ahead of time to those I might offend with this article, but I do hope you read this with an open mind. If youre not willing to look at things from a different perspective, please stop reading this. I do not appreciate people like that.)

To start things off, Ill talk about political correctness. Some of you might think, You can't say anything anymore because of political correctness. And that, I have to admit, is kind of true. Speaking your mind can be a tricky thing these days.

But I believe it all depends on what you say, and the context you say it in.

The difference between a friendly joke and an offensive joke, for example, is whether the person whos being joked about is okay with it, and that usually amounts to whether the joke is told from a place of respect or disrespect.

The big question naysayers of my generations political correctness often overlook is: Why do we try to be so politically correct?

I believe the most simple answer is, respect.

Growing up, I and many others in my generation were raised to respect our elders. But I, for one, never felt very respected by many of my elders, or even my older peers, due to my younger age or grade. Because of that, I eventually developed the philosophy that you should respect those who deserve respect, regardless of age.

I believe respect is the wheel that peace rolls on. When people respect each other, even when they disagree or dont fully understand one another, theyre more able to form relationships and work together.

This brings me to the offending side of things. Yes, some people take political correctness way too seriously and go too far, but they are not the majority. In fact, these sorts are usually disliked by the general populace of the very groups they think theyre defending groups like the LGBT+ community, as an example.

The LGBT+ community has a reputation for being easily offended. But, as a member of this community myself, I believe the main reason behind that is the lack of respect weve dealt with for so many years. Homosexuality was illegal in the U.S. until not that long ago (it was decriminalized nationwide only 19 years ago, in 2003). Its still frowned upon in some circles today, and many people still refuse to treat trans people like the gender they say they are.

Its only been in the last couple of decades that weve finally been able to be more open and proud of who we are, with the legalization of homosexual marriage and continued advancement of gay and transgender rights.

But when someone makes an unwarranted and unwelcome comment or joke about an LGBT+ person which still happens it can make that person feel as if they are wrong or bad. If someone told you that all you know about yourself is wrong or bad, how would you feel? You would feel disrespected, wouldnt you? And when people feel like they are being disrespected or under attack, they usually get offended, and they often fight back.

Dont take this as me defending those who get offended by every little thing those people dont deserve respect, in my book. Instead, take this as me defending those who get offended because someone has done or said something disrespectful to them thats not being easily offended, its being rightfully offended.

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COLUMN FROM THE INTERN: Please take it easy on us - Detroit Lakes Tribune