I am fed up with the euphemisms that have arisen in the name of political correctness, which itself is a euphemism for the stifling of any speech or expression that could offend a single person.
I say this in response to a request I received today encouraging donations to an organization that assists “socially, physically and/or mentally challenged adults.”
The dictionary defines a challenge as a test of one’s ability. While earning degrees in chemical engineering and computer science, I myself was mentally challenged. My physical challenges come in the form of 100-mile bicycle rides.
I’m still wondering what the term “socially challenged” means. I suppose that people who use the term “challenged” in place of “handicapped” or “disabled” figure that softening the language will somehow lessen the severity of the conditions of the people to whom they are referring.
I think it is counterproductive, though, as it trivializes the conditions of these truly needy people and makes us feel less urgency in helping them.
