It is true that some criticism can be rooted in prejudice, however it is not necessarily the case that all criticism is unjustified and rooted in bigotry. To the contrary, many criticisms may be rooted in fact and quite valid, yet still come across as unjustified to the offended party because of their own insecurity. Moreover, it can be difficult to distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate forms of criticism, particularly when one is on the receiving end of the critique.
Furthermore, even when criticism is valid and delivered in an appropriate manner, feeling offended can still be a natural response due to that person's own insecurities or lack of self-confidence. It is also possible for someone to feel offended by criticism intended to help them because they are not in a position to accept the help. All of this suggests that feeling offended does not always have to be viewed as a sign of strength and courage. In many cases, feeling offended can simply be an indicator of an individual's own insecurity as originally suggested in the essay.
So all in all, while feeling offended can sometimes be a sign of strength and courage, it is important to remember that feelings of offense are also often rooted in our own insecurity and lack of self-confidence. It is wrong if you think that offense is always rooted entirely in prejudice or an inappropriate form of criticism. After all, even the most confident of us sometimes cannot help but take affront at certain critiques - especially if they are absolutely correct!