ASA002 A01
Week 7
In the Atlantic's post “The Coddling of the American Mind," by Greg Lukianoff, he describes the growing phenomenon of how PC culture and microaggressions are inherently stunting the mental health of today's college students. As much as I would like to say that safe places and the like are healthy, I think Greg makes a lot of valid points as well. In today's college culture, it seems harder and harder to 1) question how things are going (which reduces critical thinking) and 2) speak out differing ideals. Take, for example, the notorious speaker Milo Yiannpoulos and how the UC Berkeley students treated his speech--they essentially protested him so much that he was completely unable to give his speech. Granted, I personally disagree with a lot of what he says; however, I still believe that he has both the right to say what he wants to say as well as for people to listen to what he has to say. In my opinion, it is hazardous to your mental health to only think a certain way, and disregard new ways of thinking. It seems to be a common theme to say that identity is fluid and ever changing in ethnic studies classes, but how can your identity be fluid if you only listen to one side? You become stagnant in how you view life, with no room to grow. There's a saying that only through "tribulations" would one become the best person one can be-- and that includes mental health. The best athletes can only become the "best" through not only hours upon hours of practice, but also rising from failure. Life is about surmounting challenges and overcoming adversity, but to do that you need the necessary tools to do so. Strengthening your mental health by seeing life differently from how you've always viewed it is a necessary process, and PC culture inhibits that growth.
When is PC culture too much? Have you ever thought about going to see a republican speech (if you're a democrat) or vice versa? Or is today's PC culture valid and necessary?
References:
1. Lukianoff , Greg, and Jonathan Haidt. “The Coddling of the American Mind.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 31 July 2017.
2. Comedy Central. Retrieved November 5, 2017. <http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/South-Park-PC-Principal-Saying-Check-Your-Privilege-Refrigerator-Magnet-NEW-/361859811929>
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