Political correctness. You probably think it’s dumb. It’s a blatant violation of your constitutionally-granted free speech, right? A useless, unwarranted attack on your freedom to say whatever you want, whenever you want. This is America after all, and the liberal embodiment of a “safe space” is ruining it all! You may feel like you can’t say anything anymore!

Calm down. Let’s talk about what “free speech” means. The right to free speech means the government can’t arrest you for what you say. It doesn’t mean that anyone else has to listen to your racist, sexist, or homophobic speech, or host you while you share it. The first amendment doesn’t shield you from criticism or consequences. If you’re yelled at, boycotted, have your show cancelled, or get banned from an internet community, your free speech rights aren’t being violated. It’s just that people think you’re offensive, and they’re showing you the door.

Living without consequences is something you might be used to. You’ve enjoyed your right to make racist, sexist, and homophobic jokes and slurs without anyone telling you to be quiet. I understand…it can be frustrating when politically-correct liberals call you out for being offensive. If you need to take a moment and go to a “safe space” where you can’t be criticized, I suggest you stop reading because I’d like to decipher some offensive words and phrases prevalently used at Xavier, and I wouldn’t want to hurt your feelings.

Have you ever used the word “gay” or “fag” as an insult? I’m not going to sugarcoat it to protect your feelings; those are homophobic slurs. When you use someone’s sexual orientation to insult someone else, it dehumanizes and offends the LGBTQ+ community. It’s a little like going around and calling people “African-American” as an insult. Race isn’t an insult; neither is sexual orientation. Bonus tip: “Are you assuming my gender?” is code for “I think nontraditional gender identities are something to joke about.”

I’m sorry, are you “triggered?” Stop right there. Every time you mockingly say “triggered,” you are sending the following message to the educated people around you: mental health patients whose “triggers” stimulate post-traumatic stress disorder are something to joke about. Yep, that’s where the word “triggered” came from. Notice: I’m not trying to take away your free speech. I’m not saying you can’t go around making fun of those who struggle with PTSD, but if you do, you and everyone around you shouldn’t be ignorant about what you’re saying.

What’s that? Did you just tell your friend that this article’s “retarded?” I heard you, and I’m here to tell you there’s a good reason why there was a bipartisan national movement to stop saying that word. Again, it’s using someone’s mental illness to insult someone else. Not cool. Mentally-handicapped people did not choose to have their disability. Do not choose to use their illness to call something dumb or stupid. Either come up with a better insult or be judged for being offensive.

Finally, if you are not African-American, there is never an acceptable reason to call anyone the n-word. It’s not cool. It’s not funny. It’s hateful.

Alright, I’m done spewing liberal, politically-correct trash. You can come out of your “safe space” now. Welcome to the real world, where your words have consequences. Think before you speak.

Peter Deegan

A&E Co-Editor