“Being politically correct means always having to say you’re sorry.” Former CBS Sunday morning news anchor Charles Osgood couldn’t have put it any better.

Many students will be graduating in the next few months and leaving this cozy little town behind. We move away from our “BFFs” and face this thing called reality.

In reality, we won’t get to sleep-in to avoid our responsibilities. If our best isn’t good enough, mommy won’t be there to reassure us of our excellence. Sometimes people will say things to us that may be offensive. So, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the real world.

Political correctness is a wonderful concept. It gives everyone an excuse to be fat, a reason to be lazy and a warm fuzzy feeling that no matter what you do, you never have to face the realty of failure.

We will all find that unlike grade school sports, there is no prize for second place in the work force, you won’t get a sticker for trying your best in law school and if you lose in life you are quite simply a loser.

This may come as a shock, but the truth isn’t always pretty. It is the way we deal with the facts of the truth that makes us strong informed individuals.

As college students, we have an obligation to use our knowledge to overcome stereotypes. We have an obligation to integrate all races, all shapes and all religions into our lives.

How do we do that if we do not pierce the veil of ignorance? Candy-coating the facts to make someone feel good about themselves does not benefit anyone. If we don’t express the truth about how we feel, then we will accept the unacceptable instead of addressing the differences and working toward a compromise.

Talk Radio talk show host and political commentator Glenn Beck discusses his view on this “nation of political correctness”.

“It doesn’t allow you to publicly talk about stereotypes or sensitive questions about age or race or religion. You can’t even say anything about it or just ask an honest question,” Beck said.

Some of the most notorious names in the media have built their success from political incorrectness. Comedian Bill Maher, radio talk show host Don Imus, Republican radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh and political commentator Bill O’Reilly have all made a name for themselves for telling the brutal truth.

There is no denying that most of these men are hated by many and at times say things that are offensive, but the respect by their followers shows that many people appreciate their bravery to say what everyone else thinks.

There is a difference between being honest and being rude. Political correctness is not about being rude or going out of your way to make someone else feel bad about themselves.

It’s not about being racist or derogatory toward a specific group, but it is important that misconceptions be brought to light so we all have a better understanding of each other’s true perspectives.

Bruce Graska, junior political science and public law and administration major, brought up a fundamental point with regards to the consequences of political correctness.

“It is detrimental when you are not able to convey a feeling because it may hurt a group,” Graska said. “There are key issues that are going to be ignored. I have never been a fan of political correctness. Throughout history, the people who get things done are the people who spoke their minds and then acted on those words.”

Let us continue to say Merry Christmas without fear. Let us all recite the Pledge of Allegiance without reservations and continue to uphold the traditions of this great country.

Let us exercise our freedom of speech with the hope that it will lead to a better understanding of one another.

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