Maybe this is what Bill Maher was talking about ,we have become too politically correct

[quinnox]

40. "putting an end to the use of those words"

I'd say that is classic authoritarianism. Did you ever read "1984"? In the book, Winston Smith works as a clerk in the Records Department of the Ministry of Truth, and part of his job is to rewrite history, to make it align and seem favorable to the power structure. There is also a thing in the book called "newspeak", which is a new language that is made with all words deemed objectionable by the authorities banned and censored.

As wikipedia puts it - "It is a controlled language created by the totalitarian state as a tool to limit freedom of thought, and concepts that pose a threat to the regime such as freedom, self-expression, individuality, peace, etc. Any form of thought alternative to the party’s construct is classified as 'thoughtcrime.'

In a free society, it is very important that no words are banned or censored, including ones that people find offensive. Hell, especially ones that people find offensive! Once you start going down that road, it will inevitably lead to fascism. History is full of examples of authoritarian regimes that control the populace to a horrendous degree, including how they speak and what they can say. See North Korea for the latest example.