One of the cultural ideologies that\u2019s received ample contemporary airtime is this idea of \u201ccancel culture.\u201d As quoted here in early June, \u201cCancel culture refers to the popular practice of withdrawing support for (canceling) public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive. Cancel culture is generally discussed as being performed on social media in the form of group shaming.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To be \u201ccancelled\u201d means to no longer pay attention to \u2014 and<\/em> \u2014 via the group shaming response \u2014 to also declare that the person in question no longer deserves anyone else\u2019s attention either. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ever.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, something a person has said or done \u2014 maybe only one thing<\/em> a person has said or done \u2014 means they no longer deserve to be heard from again. They no longer are allowed nor believed capable<\/em> of a positive contribution to society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cancel culture, therefore, is not about what\u2019s good and true and right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cancel culture is about control.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that both the current and most recent President actually agree on the ideology\u2019s lack of virtue. Said Pres. Trump, \u201cWe want free and open debate, not speech codes and cancel culture. We embrace tolerance, not prejudice.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Said Pres. Obama, \u201cThat\u2019s not bringing about change. If all you\u2019re doing is casting stones, you\u2019re probably not going to get that far.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n And even though the instances of desired application have seemingly gotten louder and the public and public officials\u2019 acceptance seems lesser, it got me wondering what\u2019s actually wrong with the whole idea\u2026 why it bothers me\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s wrong with cancel culture? \u2026What\u2019s wrong with ridding the world of the influence of someone who fails to conform to what I believe is right?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n One, it misses the profound beauty of redemption.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n No doubt we\u2019ve each seen a lot of beautiful things in our lives\u2026 the birth of a child\u2026 the majesty of the mountains\u2026 the hawk that soars so high in the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But for me there may be nothing more beautiful than the one who is redeemed \u2014 for whatever the reason. Maybe it\u2019s a series of habitual errors or a life of dysfunction or some awful, despicable act, but at some point the person is broken enough to see the error of their ways, acknowledge their wrongdoing, and to make amends. They adopt a posture of humility and become generous in their forgiveness \u2014 in both the asking and extending. They become great givers of grace, sincerely and profoundly recognizing they may be the one who needs it most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because cancel culture is marked by a one-and-done mentality, it misses the profound beauty of redemption \u2014 not to mention its accompanying humility, forgiveness, and grace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n And two, it assumes \u201cI\u201d am as smart as \u201cI\u201d ever need to be.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Follow me on this one\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n I heard someone say recently, \u201cI reserve the right to get smarter,\u201d and I thought, \u201cWhat a wise thing to say.\u201d In other words, I hope I know more tomorrow than I know today\u2026 and I hope I will always be willing and wanting to say that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we judge another by their belief or behavior for failing to conform to what we believe is right \u2014 and let\u2019s be clear, cancelling is an act of judgment<\/em> \u2014 do we not realize that at some point we might be the one who errs? Do we not realize that what we believe to be right today, may not be right with someone else tomorrow?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I think of phrases that were at one time socially acceptable but today are not. Those persons did not know then what we know now. Hopefully, they\u2019ve gotten smarter and changed their behavior. But what if they haven\u2019t? And what if someday \u2014 God forbid \u2014 that person is \u201cme\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because cancel culture believes in ridding the world of the influence of someone who fails to conform to \u201cme,\u201d it assumes there are people who are as smart as they ever need to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I will always be more attracted to the redeemed than to the one who thinks they know all they need to know. The un-cancelled, humble one \u2014 the one once broken and now generous in virtue \u2014 now that person, they have a story to share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR One of the cultural ideologies that\u2019s received ample contemporary airtime is this idea of \u201ccancel culture.\u201d As quoted here in early June, \u201cCancel culture refers to the popular practice of withdrawing support for (canceling) public figures and companies after they have done or said something considered objectionable or offensive. Cancel culture is generally discussed as being … <\/p>\n
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