Going Backwards at Warp Speed

The fear of words...

It's hard to imagine a fictional world with such a broad fan base as the Star Trek universe. Through multiple series, movies, books, games, etc., many people see reflected the sort of world they'd like to see come to fruition.  Many people, especially those on the left, see an idealistic socialist utopia where everyone gets along and nobody lives for want of anything.  

The 1960's original series, especially, pointed to the idea that people of all races could get along, working and living together.  Although this theme was apparent throughout the series, a few episodes directly touched on this.  One episode where this wasn't an intended theme, however, makes a great point.  In "The Savage Curtain," an alien facsimile of Abraham Lincoln visits the Enterprise.  Upon meeting Lt. Uhura, the following exchange occurs:

https://youtu.be/sKMamk-JYiw?t=5m40s

LINCOLN: What a charming negress. Oh, forgive me, my dear. I know in my time some used that term as a description of property.  

UHURA: But why should I object to that term, sir? You see, in our century we've learned not to fear words.  

KIRK: May I present our communications officer, Lieutenant Uhura.  

LINCOLN: The foolishness of my century had me apologizing where no offense was given.  

KIRK: We've each learned to be delighted with what we are.

For all their expressed desire to see that aspect of the Star Trek universe made into reality in our time, the left has been fighting (intentionally or unintentionally) to keep it from happening.  They have made many words so feared, so despised, that the mere utterance of any one of them will result in being fired, shunned, barred from polite society, and, in extreme cases, shot through the lungs.  

Instead of teaching youngsters NOT to fear words, we instead teach them not only to fear words, but to willingly, actively seek being harmed by them -- regardless of the intent of the speaker.  Just take a look at many of the concepts developed by the left over recent years:  Microaggressions, trigger warnings, dog whistle words, etc.  

So, rather than trying to move forward towards the ideals that our parents tried to teach us ("Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me"), we are heading backwards to a world filled with people having such fragile egos that the utterance of a single word can be construed as an aggressive attack requiring protection of some higher authority (i.e., the thought police).  And if such protection is not provided by the authorities, then the "victim" of the horrific attack of words now feels justified in stopping the "aggression" by any means necessary.

Think I'm wrong?  Take a look at the recent shooting on live TV in Roanoke, VA.  The shooter (I will not use his name and give him further notoriety) felt justified in attacking and killing former co-workers because they uttered such racist words as "swing" and "field" as in, "Let's swing by Starbucks before heading out to the field."    

Racist?  "How in God's name could this be even remotely racist?" you may ask.  According to complaints filed by the shooter, "swing by" is something that monkeys do, and "the field" is where black people go to pick cotton.  

Again...  Think I'm wrong?  I may be, but I fear not.