Political Correctness: A New Form of Terrorism

Before people start freaking out about the title of this post, I believe the definition of terrorism is in order.  Therefore, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, terrorism is: "the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion." Link found here.

Now, what is terror?  Again, from Merriam-Webster, terror is: 

Definition of TERROR

1

: a state of intense fear

2

a : one that inspires fear : scourge

b : a frightening aspect <the terrors of invasion>

c : a cause of anxiety : worry

d : an appalling person or thing; especially : brat

3

: reign of terror

4

: violent or destructive acts (as bombing) committed by groups in order to intimidate a population or government into granting their demands <insurrection and revolutionary terror>

Link found here.

That being said, what does political correctness do?  It's main goal and purpose is to make us reform our speech so that we don't offend someone else (i.e. using "African-American" rather than saying they are "black", saying "hard of hearing" rather than "deaf" even though those in the deaf community would rather be called "Deaf", etc.).

Now, am I saying that we should speak to intentionally offend?  No, but I think we are at a point with our political correctness now that it causes "terror" (according to 2c of terror).  Honestly, does anyone feel like they can say what they would really like to say?  Or is everybody so freaked out that they are going to offend someone, that they can't portray the thoughts they would like to?

Is that perhaps why we don't like our politicians so much?  Is it because the couch everything they say and do into such affect that it won't offend anyone, but it results in them getting nothing done?  Somebody I know posted this to Facebook, and I find it fitting.

When will we have American leaders again?  When was the last time we had such leaders?  I can't see Obama saying anything like this to Putin, Moorsi, or any other world leader.  Indeed, hasn't he said there would be a red line when it came to Iran and nuclear developments?  What about Syria?

I don't think George W. Bush was like this either.  He made speeches during 2001 after 9/11 that filled people with hope, but then entered 2 wars that he did not have the clear goal of winning.  I don't think Clinton would fit in this boat either (indeed, using the definition of "is" to try to get out of problems in court rooms doesn't exactly instill confidence and shows poor leadership).

I think part of all of this is the terrorism of PC.  It's gotten to the point that Obama didn't want to call anything terrorism (Benghazi [a spontaneous uprising due to a YouTube video], Fort Hood massacre [a workplace shooting, even though the shooter was yelling 'Allahu Akhbar'], etc.).

Nobody can say that "Islamic Extremism" is bad, because instantly they bring up that there are plenty of good Muslim people.  I'm not doubting that there are good Muslim people out there practicing their faith, but we can't deny that Islamic Extremism is a problem either.

In short, Political Correctness is a bigger impediment on our free speech then is anything else is in this country, and it shouldn't be that way.  Along with free speech should come the recognition that it doesn't include the right to not be offended.  I have the right to free speech.  You have the right to free speech, and I don't have the right to try and shut your free speech down, as much as it might offend me.  The same applies the other way around.  I can offend you as much as you want, but you don't have the right to shut me down. You have the right to change which website you're looking at, which TV show you're watching, etc., but just because you are offended by what someone says or does in support of their free speech doesn't mean that it should be shut down.

So what are your thoughts?  Am I out in left field on this one?  Or does what I say make sense?