“I’m so tired of this politically correct crap,” announced Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump while campaigning in South Carolina this September.  The self-proclaimed “straight-talker” has elicited both anger and applause for his method of insulting his way to the top of the polls.

Trump’s remarks regarding everything from menstruation to Mexicans have Americans questioning the unwritten laws of political correctness.  After each debate, we are left flabbergasted on our couches, asking the same questions about decorum in discourse as we are about Trump’s hair.  Is it even necessary? Should we keep it, or shave it away?

I will attest that some of Trump’s comments have filled me with a rage more fiery than the orange of his spray-tan.  His remarks are, simply put, insulting and offensive.  In his presidential announcement speech, he branded Mexican immigrants as “rapists” that are “bringing drugs” and “bringing crime” into our nation. Consequently, Trump (perhaps intentionally) surfed a wave of controversy into the headlines and, as a result, into political prominence.

These words sparked more than mere outrage; they spurred violence.  In Boston this August, two brothers savagely attacked and urinated on a homeless Mexican man. Their words before being detained? “Donald Trump was right.  All these illegals need to be deported.”

I will let this event speak for itself.

On the other hand, political correctness can go too far.  For instance, Microsoft raised eyebrows in 2010 when it suspended the Xbox account of a user who entered his location as “Fort Gay, West Virginia” on the grounds that the word “gay” was offensive, despite it being a common surname and the name of the town.  Instances like these indicate that being too PC is not only cringe-inducing, but also unnecessary.

  Failed attempts at political correctness can sometimes be just as offensive as Trumpisms. Many people are offended by everything they hear; every goofy commercial or utterance of “Merry Christmas!” fans the fire of their tempers. Our nation should be debating issues of gravity, such as abortion and immigration, rather than Starbucks’ latest holiday cup design.  I, frankly, do not give a rat’s… posterior about whether or not my coffee cup has Santa Claus on it; I just want my caffeine.  The war on ISIS should be commanding more attention than the “War on Christmas.”

That said, political correctness does have merit.  It allows some semblance of respect to exist in the political arena, encouraging candidates to use words that are inspirational rather than inflammatory.  It allows children of all backgrounds to attend school without feeling alienated because of their race and/or religion.  It promotes an appreciation of diversity and instills a respect for proper etiquette in the general populus.

How do we find the balance between unfiltered Trump-esque garbage and overly-PC trash? Common sense and tolerance.  Common sense dictates that labeling undocumented immigrants as “rapists” is not only immoral, but largely incorrect.  Tolerance would allow consumers to purchase a SOLID RED coffee cup at Starbucks without becoming enraged, and would allow people to accept either “Merry Christmas!” or “Happy Holidays!” without jumping, gun-loaded, into the “War on Christmas.”

We should not extract every ounce of fun from the world by injecting bubble-wrapped, PC language into every conversation; however, we should not ditch our filters altogether and spend our days ranting and uploading diatribe after diatribe onto the internet.  Simply be candid, yet respectful.