Sydney Newton
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Our generation is indeed a special one. Some might call us naïve, smart, or stupid, and some would call us overly sensitive. No matter what our generation is described as, I think we can all agree that times are changing more than they ever have been. Along with the rapidly changing age comes a changed mindset.Social activism is as powerful as ever. Some of that is due to the power of the Internet.

But lately, the biggest uproar has been from those saying we are too sensitive and easily offended. Several people have said that we have a problem with accepting things that are different or that we will make a big deal out of nothing. But whether it be racism, sexism, or homophobia, if something is deemed insensitive, our generation refuses to be silent.

Everett Piper, the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, said in a recent statement after one of his students was offended by a Bible verse, “Anytime their feelings are hurt, they are the victims,” he wrote. “Anyone who dares challenge them and, thus, makes them ‘feel bad’ about themselves, is a ‘hater,’ a ‘bigot,’ an ‘oppressor,’ and a ‘victimizer.’ ”

Something recent that could attest to this are the protests at the University of Missouri. These protests arose from students who were victims of racial slurs and other acts of discrimination on campus. While many supported the Concerned Students 1950, some people were not so quick to do so. They claimed that these protests were unnecessary and disrupted their college education.

With the power of social media, ideas and thoughts are being shared more than they ever were. It is easier to get people together and share knowledge. Our generation is very skilled on knowing how to find out things on the Internet. There is this idea of “if my peers are upset about this, then I should be, too.” This is a good or bad power, depending on how it’s used.

Earlier this year, Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld opted to stop performing their comedy acts on college campus because they didn’t want to have to worry about being “politically correct.” Comedians even say political correctness kills comedy. Kylie Jenner recently posed in a wheelchair for a photo shoot, and the media lashed out. Supposedly “unimportant” things such as this are getting more attention because people are getting more and more fed up.

This discussion ultimately arrives at the question of freedom of speech. Yes, I do agree people have a right to say what they want and do what they want. But I also agree that we have the right to stand up against what we think is wrong.  I would go so far as to say that most of the time when people say we are being too insensitive, they are looking for a way to justify something wrong or to avoid change. Let us protest, and let us speak out. We are trying to make a change and be the activists we were meant to be.