Donald Trump ran his campaign on a platform that he doesn't conform to political correctness. His base ran with the idea and now the term is being twisted to mean a loss of free speech. But is it?
After being called out for implying Mexican immigrants are rapists, and openly mocking a man with physical disabilities, Trump famously said in 2016 while campaigning for the presidency:
I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct. I've been challenged by so many people and I don't, frankly, have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn't have time, either.
So what did Trump mean by this statement? Could it be this?
The Washington Post
Writer A.R. Moxon, who goes by the Twitter handle Julius Goat, broke down what it really means to be politically correct after coming across a survey with NPR 52% of Americans are against the United States becoming any more politically correct.
Fifty-two percent of Americans are against the country becoming more politically correct and are upset that there a… https://t.co/JsdfzajuaL— NPR (@NPR)1545222720.0
Ask them to name the things they can’t say anymore, ask them to list each one. https://t.co/aGFotJKB1D— A.R. Moxon (Julius Goat) (@A.R. Moxon (Julius Goat))1545276443.0
Don’t allow these bullshit euphemisms. Make them say the things they “can’t” say. They things they still say, in certain company.— A.R. Moxon (Julius Goat) (@A.R. Moxon (Julius Goat))1545276669.0
No one who complains that they “can’t say ... things ... anymore” is prevented from saying anything. What they mea… https://t.co/tX9LlS8VFH— A.R. Moxon (Julius Goat) (@A.R. Moxon (Julius Goat))1545304588.0
The real objection isn’t that there are suddenly so many things they can’t say. The real objection is there are su… https://t.co/elwPkE7U5t— A.R. Moxon (Julius Goat) (@A.R. Moxon (Julius Goat))1545306106.0
“There are things we can’t say anymore” is a phrase intended the skirt accountability. Poll the exact things. Ask… https://t.co/HO20g6GCV9— A.R. Moxon (Julius Goat) (@A.R. Moxon (Julius Goat))1545306740.0
Others also took exception to the idea that political correctness in any way takes away free speech?
@NPR The only things I’ve found I can’t say anymore are terrible things from back when I was (more of) a part of th… https://t.co/9jlaHcwumo— Sylvanaqua Farms (@Sylvanaqua Farms)1545223742.0
@NPR Oh nooooo they can’t say racist and sexist things without repercussions anymore what will they do https://t.co/EOxF4C4CCf— Kate (@Kate)1545224672.0
@NPR Bull. There's nothing stopping you from saying anything. There's also nothing stopping anyone from calling you… https://t.co/NKinksDYXR— Vince (@Vince)1545226359.0
@NPR Politically correct is such a negative term for being a decent human. Should say 52% of Americans are against… https://t.co/w1d8D4tc4H— Ryan (@Ryan)1545222981.0
@NPR Could you provide some examples of things people “can’t” say anymore? And what, exactly, is stopping them—do t… https://t.co/Vmh3O09yo6— Kristen (@Kristen)1545488843.0
@NPR So basically, people who like saying hateful shit want to be able to say it without the marginalized people th… https://t.co/nNnV1My3xr— ❄️ Lissa Jo ❄️ (@❄️ Lissa Jo ❄️)1545224861.0
@NPR No one is telling them then ‘can’t’ say douchey things. They are just mad that people are now empowered enough to call them out for it.— Meghan Hamilton (@Meghan Hamilton)1545235916.0
Being held accountable is not the same as being silenced.