I was recently scrolling down my Facebook feed when I saw this gem of a “motivational” and “inspirational” style poster of political correctness. I initially shook my head and continued scrolling down my feed. But something triggered a rant in my head and I couldn’t let it go.
When I ignore something because “it’s not a problem to me personally” it’s not because I was raised with privilege. On the contrary, I was raised to mind my own business in regards to problems that didn’t affect me personally.
As a child I was constantly reprimanded for butting into other people’s business. I was constantly told “adults are talking” or “go to your room” when serious issues were being discussed. I was taught not to interject my opinion into conversations that were none of my business.
This is how the world used to work until my generation of special snowflakes came along and we became a child-centered culture. Past generations of children would get into trouble by their parents for ease dropping, back talking, or tattling on others. But we’ve culturally turned our backs on the virtues of “minding your own business” and “holding your tongue”.
The Decade Of Awareness Campaigns
Growing up in the 90’s I was constantly bombarded with “awareness” campaigns. From Nancy Reagan’s “Just Say No” to “The More You Know” commercials. I was aware “this is your brain on drugs…” cue to actress frying an egg in a pan and then smashing up her kitchen with the same pan after saying “… and this is what drugs does to your family”.
After school programs always had the moral lessons of drugs or gun violence. There was always a scene of the targeted friend of the group with the “I’m unsure” facial expression as the bad kids peer pressured them into doing the bad thing feature in the episode.
MTV was also full blown “awareness” in their music videos often depicted as “art”. We got to see TLC warn against unsafe sex and AIDS/HIV in their “Waterfalls” video and pin condoms onto their clothes as a statement. In Pearl Jam’s video “Jeremy” highlighted teenage bullying, gun violence, and suicide. Some would conclude from my sample selection that living in the 1990’s was a bummer with an over abundance of moral lessons.
Continue reading “The Political Nagging Of “Check Yo Privilege””
