P.C. Madness

The United States is the melting pot for cultures. This country prides itself on its plethora of cultures and inherent diversity; however, though equal by law, in reality, not all of those cultures are seen to be equal in society. Being “white” still signifies superioty as they somehow are the most “American.” But, these same people claim they are 20% Irish, 34.5% Italian, 7.75% Swedish and well so on so forth.. so therefore they’re immigrants too, right?

I am a Indian-born American- I moved to this country when I was 2 months old, and I am just as American as anyone else. Yet ignorant people ask me “where are you from?”  The first time I calmly answer Troy, Michigan but after repeatedly being asked the same question… I realized that saying India was what they really wanted to hear since that was the politically correct answer.

More and more this obsession with political correctness is seen to divide race and social classes. However, the politically correct answer is not always what is needed or warranted. It simply generalizes more specific words, which then lose meaning. For example, calling the poor “economically marginalized,” though politically correct, undermines the seriousness of the situation.

One example of extreme obsession with P.C. was seen in Seattle when some government workers were told that it was now offensive to use the word “citizen.” Imagine that… like what would call each other? U.S. people who can vote/live here?

In another case a Seattle student was told to call East eggs “spring sphere.”

Where does this madness end?

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Stop caring.

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. How many times have you heard that in your life? Time and time again teachers have reminded us to save paper and taught us the difference between what goes in the recycling bin and trash. However, these same teachers are also probably the ones who throw cigarettes out of their windows and leave trash out when camping.

The entire campaign towards saving our planet has become paradoxical as it has been commercialized and lost its true meaning. EPA condones the “Safe” amount of pollution, but doesn’t all and any pollution hurt our environment?

I could go on and on to talk about the hypocrisy of the government- as soon as Trump became president, the climate change page sudden became obsolete from the White House’s website.

However, all these only mater when we truly all believe saving our planet is important. Many people have the mentality that “climate change won’t matter till I die so I don’t need to worry about.” However, this is not the case at all. Just in my short lifetime of 16, I have seen the effects of climate change. When I was younger, I remember the distinct seasons as warm summer, cold winter, and moderate spring and fall. In contrast, seasons now all seem to blend into one with our “blessed” moderate winter and unbearably hot summer. Not just that though- our lakes and oceans are slowly being polluted and the life that thrives in them is being destroyed. Just this past year, the Great Barrier Reef was pronounced completely dead. Can you imagine that? I grew up hearing about the beauty and myriad of life that was the Great Barrier Reef, but due to all sorts of damage to the environment, it has been depleted of life all together.

The first way to battle these detrimental effects to our environment is to make sure we all understand why it’s important to do so. 

No Matter What

No matter what I wear, as a woman, I can not escape being marked. When I wear more covered clothing, I’m questioned whether or not I just broke up with my boyfriend. When I show more skin, I'm scrutinized for which guy I’m actually dressed up for.

I personally do not wear makeup to school; however, the few times I have, multiple people asked me what the “special occasion” was. People simply could not fathom the idea that I was wearing makeup just because I wanted to.

Every day I’m judged for what I wear and how I look and am put in some female stereotype because of it. Girls can not go a day without being stereotyped, a problem that males do not have to deal with. Males are not scrutinized as they change up what they wear and how they look- they instead are accepted for it without being judged or type-casted.

At home, I face the daily struggle of fighting my parents for my clothes. Countless times I’ve been told “Esha your dress is short” or “your shirt is too tight” from my parents.  And, every time I ask her why it matters, she responds, “what will others say?” This is because revealing clothing ahs been marked as belonging to a girl with loose character.. .

How can I ever go umarked in my society?