America has reached a tipping point with cancel culture. Let’s hope the momentum continues
Of all the left wing celebrities that exist in Hollywood, Bill Maher is the last one many would’ve have expected to challenge the notions of cancel culture. He’s an environmentalist, pro recreational marijuana, and has often taken an anti-religion stance, which was showcased in his 2008 documentary film Religulous. But over the past two years Maher has been very vocal about political correctness, and “woke” so called social justice warrior causes. On a May 7th, 2021 episode of his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher, he mocks millennials inability to understand the evils of communism, the naivety of defunding the police, and the unproductiveness of Twitch. He’s questioned the authoritarianism of lockdowns and vaccine mandates, criticized the silencing of speech, and believes that allowing a 3 year old child to pick their gender is extreme. Many have criticized Maher for these viewpoints, and he’s been accused of conservative sympathy.
Maher is far from conservative, and personally I believe it’s a mistake for Republican politicians to consider him an ally. But Maher is a classic liberal, one that believes you have the right to an opinion even if offends someone, and that history shouldn’t be erased, but rather taught, that way mistakes won’t be made again. There’s no doubt that the progressive of today has almost no resemblance to the counter culture movement of the 60’s and 70’s, in which rock music and comedy quite often offended the masses. Today’s progressive advocates banning speech, censoring comedy, and with the exception of abortion, removing health freedom. Even in that area, the progressive of today is beyond sensible. Forget safe, legal and rare. Instead, it’s I could care less if a body is formed, I have a right to abort it anyway, for any reason.
Many Americans are now becoming annoyed by the narrative that everything is offensive, and that one person’s feelings should override the greater good of society. When Joel Kaplan, one of Facebook’s executives attended the hearing (aka crucifying) of Chief Justice Brett Kavanaugh in 2018, many of the company’s employees expressed their dismay over the show of support that Kaplan showed for a very close friend of his. Kudos to Facebook, which can be both hot and cold when it comes to censorship, for standing by Kaplan and not giving into the mob mentality of it’s employees. We’ve seen this same behavior with JK Rowling, Mike Lindel, Goya Foods, Gina Carano, Chris Harrison, Rosanne Barr and Dr. Seuss. The attacks are no longer exclusive to conservatives. Joe Rogan, a self identifying liberal, and James Bennett, the former head of the New York Times editorial page. were both targeted by the mentally ill cancel culture mob. Rogan for speaking up against vaccine mandates and his use of Ivermectin, (which has been used as an anti-viral for decades) and Bennett for daring to allow Senator Tom Cotton exercise his right to free speech.
Right now, America is experiencing the consequences of giving into emotional reactions rather than using logical perspective anytime a social justice propogandist whines about an issue. Many corporations, no longer showing an interest in promoting free market capitalism, are bowing to this Marxist mentality. Since many of them are already generational name brands, such as Disney, Gillette and Aunt Jemima, it’s easy for them to desecrate the foundation that was laid prior to the current CEO’s arrival. This is something to be ashamed of, not proud.
It will take a tremendous amount of courage to change the current trajectory of communism pushed by today’s progressives. I do fear that many Republicans, who often lack the insight to see a window of opportunity when it comes to extreme behavior by Democrats, might not be the ones to lead the fight against this. When Mitt Romney dismisses Joe Biden’s insults of being a racist, you know that many in the party are appeasers, not leaders.
There is hope. But it will take all of us to stand up against the cancel culture mob.
Until next time
JPN