Happy 4th everyone.

I am starting to think people ran out of reasons to be offended, and thought it would have been easier to make up new reasons than to start worrying about real issues.

This list is meant for Social Justice Warriors, I believe that if they stopped wasting their time on silly things the world could become a better place.

If you know an SJW, please share this with [insert made up pronoun here.]

The 4th of July

What about it?

According to the Huffington post today glorifies racist history, and should not be celebrated unless the holiday is “reframed.”

Not being a U.S. citizen, it took me a while to understand what could possibly be racist about fireworks and delicious food.

It is because The U.S. being free from England meant nothing for black people, as it did not free them for slavery.



Why it should not offend you

I understand why the fourth of July could have little meaning to the African American population, but nothing about the way the holiday is “framed” discourages them from celebrating.

People of all races, even those whose ancestors immigrated to the U.S. in the 20th century, celebrated today.

It is fine not to feel represented by a tradition, but the great thing about holidays is that they are not mandatory.

Should we really take offence at every celebration we do not feel includes us?

It would be like being outraged by Christmas because it excludes non-Christians.

Oh wait, that is actually a thing.

Meritocracy

What about it?

“I believe the most qualified person should get the job” is a microaggression, says University of California.

Because it is a meritocratic statement, and meritocracy is not compatible with equality.



Why it should not offend you

Because meritocracy is about equal opportunities, not about equal outcomes.

Trying to guarantee equal results is in fact not only unequal, but incredibly damaging for our society.

Affirmative action is considerate to be “positive discrimination,” but would it be positive to have quotas for surgeons?

Would anyone want to be treated by a doctor who was not the most qualified person for the job?



The Male Gaze

What about it?

The male gaze is the reason why naked women are not okay, if a man benefits from looking at them. It is also the reason why ugly naked women are okay.

The concept of the male gaze was introduced in the 1970’s by John Berger, who I am guessing felt incredibly guilty about his attraction for women.

I think it is hilarious how one of the main contributions to feminist readings of pop culture was written by a cis white male.

Why it should not offend you

Would you talk to a zoologist and argue that the way male peacocks show off their fathers to attract females is sexist?

That they would not do it if it was not for the female gaze?

We are not the only species that utilizes physical traits as a display of fertility to attract a mate.

Sexual selection is incredibly common, and a powerful evolutionary process.

Advertisement took advantage of this, and appealing women all over the world started profiting from men’s attraction for them (without ever having to actually sell their body.)

If anyone should be outraged for being used that would be men, but they seem to be fine with it so far.

Greek and Roman Mythology

What about it?

It is triggering.

Not only does it upset victims of rape, who might me brought to re-live their trauma, but it is also offensive for people of color and/or from a low-income background.

At least this is what Columbia students think.

Why it should not offend you

When Ovid wrote the Metamorphoses, the violence he described was part of the world he lived in, and future oversensitive students where the last thing on his mind.

Learning is not always a comfortable experience, because not everything we will learn will come from our politically correct society. Books may upset us, great books should upset us.

It is something we have to take into account when we attend college.

Just because something is not politically correct it does not mean it can not be beautiful, and it does not mean it is not worth of being represented.

“What are You?” “Where are You From?”

What about it?



This is also supposed to be a microaggression.

Because being “color blind” is bad, but asking about one’s ethnicity is also bad.

We are supposed to be educated about race, but we are not allowed to ask questions about it.

How is that working out so far?

Why it should not offend you

Because it is not offensive.

I can not think of one reason why this is considered offensive.

I am Italian and I have a thick accent, which is why I get the “what are you” question whenever I meet someone new.

They usually tell me I do not look Italian, because I do not.

It is not offensive, it is the truth.

Part of my family is from eastern Europe, which is why I was not born a busty brunette like Sofia Loren.

What is so derogatory about it?