AHere we are again for another Civic Issues Blog post! Two weeks we talked about the current political world surrounding the Covid-Vaccine and its mandates, and this week we are going to take a look at “Cancel Culture” and how it impacts our world today. What is Cancel Culture? As defined by dictionary.com, “Cancel 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.” This practice is a way for the public to stop supporting an individual or group for saying something terribly offensive or against the mainstream agenda. We have seen this come about more and more recently. The thought around Cancel Culture is different per political party. Surveys show that cancel culture has a different meaning for each. Liberals seem to believe more that Cancel Culture is about holding people accountable for their wrongdoings or sayings that do not follow the mainstream media. Conservatives seem to have a more cynical view that Cancel Culture correlates to punishing people for telling their views that they do not deserve. Both sides believe in both but each is more of their own. An example of Cancel Culture is J.K. Rowling being canceled for statements labeled transphobic while trying to help fight for Women’s rights. Another example is Piers Morgan who has been canceled multiple times for his statements and beliefs that, again, did not follow Liberal Mainstream thought regarding teaching gender diversity and mocking by saying he “identified as a penguin.” There are many examples of canceling that I feel are beyond necessary like for those with sexual assaults or such like R. Kelly, etc. But for me, canceling people for voicing their beliefs that do not follow the mainstream belief system and agenda is just wrong. Like trying to cancel Joe Rogan and others that voice their opinions are comical because of how ridiculous it is. Just because someone believes in something that social media does not like or Liberals do not agree with is not a real problem or cause for one to lose support or livelihood. Another example I did find interesting is that Whoopi Goldberg for her recent remarks discrediting the Holocaust was not canceled for her disrespectful comments because she is on the Left and it just proves the double standard in the Cancel Culture movement. If someone on the right was to make her comments they would have instantly been canceled. I find the Cancel Culture movement good when all agree with it, like sexual assaults or harassments, but ridiculous when it comes to beliefs that the social media disagrees with or when there is a clear double standard. See you in two weeks!