Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz argues that the politically correct movement, while claiming to promote greater diversity, has in fact limited diversity of expression. He writes: As a teacher, I can feel a palpable reluctance on the part of many students— particularly those with views in neither extreme and those who are anxious for peer acceptance—to experiment with unorthodox ideas, to make playful comments on serious subjects, to challenge politically correct views and to disagree with minority, feminist or gay perspectives. I feel this problem quite personally, since I happen to agree . . . with most “politically correct” positions. But I am appalled at the intolerance of many who share my substantive views. And I worry about the impact of politically correct intolerance on the generation of leaders we are currently educating.
Do you agree with Dershowitz? What are some examples of “politically incorrect” words or phrases on your campus? Do you find that you have to be careful to think about what you say and to avoid politically incorrect terms? Discuss whether having to do so facilitated or inhibited critical thinking.
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