Today, you can say virtually anything and be labeled a white supremacist, racist, or xenophobe. These accusations don't just come from crazy social justice warriors — governing bodies and influential institutions in our country levy them constantly.
Case in point: the University of Southern California. The institution's School of Social Work reportedly announced via a recent email that it would no longer use the word “field” in its curriculum or practices as part of its anti-racist framework. The university saw this word as potentially being “anti-Black” or “anti-immigrant,” according to the email sent by the Office of Practicum Education, because it could be associated with those populations performing “field work.” The word “practicum” will replace “field” to ensure “inclusive language and practice.”
Similarly, the Information Technology department at the University of Washington released an “inclusive language guide” that designated words deemed “homophobic,” “sexist,” “racist,” or “ageist.” One surprising word included in the list is “grandfather,” as it's the namesake of the “Grandfather clause,” which aimed to prevent black Americans from voting.
These are merely two examples of universities determining what language students can and can't use on campus. It seems that every week a new word is prohibited. Sometimes these words are acceptable for some people to use and unacceptable for others, such as the word “minority” at the University of Washington. When white people use the word, it has a negative connotation, but when non-whites include it in their vocabulary, all is well.
The University of Southern California emphasized in its email that the objective “is not just to change language but to honor and acknowledge inclusion and reject white supremacy, anti-immigrant and anti-blackness ideologies.” In other words, we must change what we say to align with the establishment's orthodoxy.
The powers that be have stripped down our language to browbeat us into submission. “Truth” is now whatever the establishment decides is correct, and dissidents who think or talk differently receive punishment.
The views expressed in this article solely represent the author's views and not necessarily College Dissident's.
