PC Language

I feel like politically correct language is all based on perspective. For example, Luntz describes that "the word, 'foreign' conjures up negative images in the minds of many Americans" - but what about those American minds that don't? To these minds, the two words "mean the exact same thing and yield the exactly the same result" (Luntz). All of the tension that the words bring are a result of "many reasons unrelated to [the] specific issue" (Luntz). A phrase that is "too violent" for kids may be more influential on certain kids more than others, so changing the language to cater to those who are more influenced yields some benefits, but also hurts those are aren't as influenced because no two words have the exact same meaning and ever so changes the true meaning of these phrases. He also describes that the concern with the word has increased since 9/11, like the word itself was responsible for the tragic event instead of the few specific foreigners that were. This is the major problem with politically correct language as changing the language in which an event is described may ease the conscious of certain people, the real problem is still at large - calling the underdeveloped the developing doesn't change the fact that the country is struggling. Changing the terms, in turn, changes how people perceive the event, which satisfies the goal of political correctness but brings on the problem of accuracy. It's like lying to save someone's feelings, but in the long run hurts more than telling the truth.