Progression is not sensitivity
Protests broke out all over the world this year to combat some of the norms that have been actively terrorizing minority groups for decades and even centuries.
January 15, 2021
In the wake of some of the most widespread social movements in the United States, there is push back from older generations claiming that the new “political correctness” being normalized is the result of generation Z being “sensitive.” Being an advocate for a more inclusive, less polarized America is not sensitivity, it is progression. What is sensitive, however, is pushing back against the changing times every step of the way because you don’t want to advance with the rest of society and because you are comfortable in your ignorance.
Words that were commonplace a few decades ago are no longer acceptable to say, and it isn’t because of a few “sensitive” teenagers. These words, particularly racial slurs, have always been derogatory and hurtful, the only difference is that these marginalized communities finally feel like they have enough support to speak out against them.
Telling a person that they are merely sensitive because they don’t want to be called derogatory words anymore, especially if you are not apart of the same marginalized community as that person, is invalidating the feelings of that person just because you are comfortable in maintaining the same ignorant diction that you always have.
Wanting to progress as a society is not sensitivity, and that’s precisely this generations goal. What I do consider sensitive is a generation that wouldn’t drink from the same water fountain as someone of another race. What I do consider sensitive is a generation that storms the Capitol Building because the president of their choice lost a lawful election. What I do consider sensitive is anyone who would rather ridicule and invalidate the feelings of others rather than remove harmful words from their vocabulary.
So no, this generation is not sensitive, and if you believe they are I encourage you to confront the part of yourself that tells you they are simply because you don’t want to admit you have been in the wrong for so long.
TrialXYZ • Mar 9, 2021 at 11:29 AM
That’s because people these days are too oversensitive in my opinion. They literally cancelled Dr. Seuss.
And also people are a lot more open-minded today then back then. In my opinion we are improving because racism will always exist.
Lawrence Katz • Feb 27, 2021 at 12:38 AM
Society today is extremely racist!!!
Anonymous • Jan 19, 2021 at 9:14 AM
We live in a society where most songs use cuss words as well as violence, children are now vaping at a younger and younger age, and people throw around racially offense words casually. And no matter how many people complain of society, it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. I think that the issue with society today has something to do with how adults raise their children. Children of the older days were much more active, open-minded, and innocent, nowadays there is rarely a child that doesn’t have their nose stuck into a screen. While social media was created with a good intent, it has taken a negative turn. Bullying, peer pressure, and bad targets are implanted into the minds of our young. And most people copy everything they see. In my opinion, the problem with this generation is that many try to hard on being “cool” than trying to make a difference. The only way that we can change society is if we start with the most influential things such as songs. If the things that we see, hear, and interact with daily, is saying the opposite of what we are trying to change, then there is absolutely no way we can change it at all. Anyone can make a difference, its just a matter of how badly you want that change. And in my opinion, this generation has lost its perseverance. Nowadays, most kids want to be YouTuber’s, rappers, and make money fast. Rarely will you come across a kid that wants to be a “doctor” or “scientist”. If people can push their kids to be something that can help improve this world, then this world will improve. And instead of speaking, we should take action to make this world safer, open-minded, happier, and overall better. But the only way we can do that is if we step up and voice our opinion to be that change. Thank you for letting me voice my opinion.