Many contemporary political commentators would argue that the "Far Left" (often very nebulously defined) is responsible for a wave of political correctness and efforts to censor and self-censor discriminatory and offensive forms of expression in society. In the pursuit of creating more equal, inclusive and diverse societies, it is necessary to resist intolerance, bigotry and prejudice, or so the argument goes. This provides an opportunity to strike against profoundly reactionary ideologies that reinforce class divisions.
However, much of political correctness is enforced by a mass media and corporations only interested in profit, and is used by governments seeking to deny the ability to have discussion on controversial subjects. Historically, it was the far left that was responsible for defending the right to free expression as a central part of democratic societies. Many of the restrictions placed on the far-right are easily transferable to the far-left based on accusations that they are equivalent as forms of "extremism" and "totalitarianism", etc. Ultimately, it could be argued that cultural changes affecting speech or depictions of minorities in the media do not affect the underlying systems of exploitation and oppression within capitalism, nor disturb socioeconomic inequalities or the classes and class divisions that necessitate racism and sexism to rationalise class oppression in the first place. As such, political correctness simply is a way of marketing capitalism as more "inclusive" without altering the fundamental injustices of the system itself.
So Comrade, do you believe Communists can help improve society by restricting expression on "offensive" and "hateful" speech that promotes bigotry and division? Or do you feel that it doesn't lead to fundamental changes in society and only endangers restrictions on the ability to communists to express many of their own views which would be considered "controversial"? Is there a middle way or do we have to choose sides in the larger cultural divide of our times?
However, much of political correctness is enforced by a mass media and corporations only interested in profit, and is used by governments seeking to deny the ability to have discussion on controversial subjects. Historically, it was the far left that was responsible for defending the right to free expression as a central part of democratic societies. Many of the restrictions placed on the far-right are easily transferable to the far-left based on accusations that they are equivalent as forms of "extremism" and "totalitarianism", etc. Ultimately, it could be argued that cultural changes affecting speech or depictions of minorities in the media do not affect the underlying systems of exploitation and oppression within capitalism, nor disturb socioeconomic inequalities or the classes and class divisions that necessitate racism and sexism to rationalise class oppression in the first place. As such, political correctness simply is a way of marketing capitalism as more "inclusive" without altering the fundamental injustices of the system itself.
So Comrade, do you believe Communists can help improve society by restricting expression on "offensive" and "hateful" speech that promotes bigotry and division? Or do you feel that it doesn't lead to fundamental changes in society and only endangers restrictions on the ability to communists to express many of their own views which would be considered "controversial"? Is there a middle way or do we have to choose sides in the larger cultural divide of our times?
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