Agreed. A key question is whether or not a person can enter into a public forum, such as a discussion on town policy, use a slur, and continue to be heard and

Agreed. A key question is whether or not a person can enter into a public forum, such as a discussion on town policy, use a slur, and continue to be heard and engaged intellectually. If they can, then the process of self-governing can continue. If they can't -- and to the degree they can't -- we are shutting people down and making them lesser citizens because of our desire to be "language police". That's PC. In small groups, of course, there are completely different rules, set by each community. That's how it should be. If combat soldiers are worried over one person's use of bigoted language, they've got their heads in the wrong place. (That language might need to be corrected. It's a decision for each group to make.) If academic or religious groups talk about language, it might be a completely different discussion. Or not. What Political Correctness seeks to do is create a universal language standard for all types of communication, then punish or silence those who fail to abide by it. It's the type of thing that might be spot-on for the local model railroad club or bowling league -- but is completely anathema to the foundations of our way of life if applied universally. Modern communication systems continue to exacerbate rather than mitigate the problem. Many people do not see the big deal, wondering "what's wrong with requiring all of us to be nicer to one another?" These people do not understand the problem and are just making things worse for society overall in their desire to be "nice". Quite ironic.