Cancel Culture is Nothing New

And when the king heard the saying of the man of God, which he cried against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Seize him.” 1 Kings 13:4

Politics, to me, is infuriating to watch, as there is always one side doing the exact thing that offended them when the other side did it. Take, for example, our propensity to try and silence any voice of opposition. It wasn’t long ago when conservatives complained bitterly of a culture they mocked as “woke” – a culture which sought to destroy any voice of disagreement. You have offended me with your intolerance! I cannot tolerate you. You must be silenced!  Conservatives were right to object. Democracy just doesn’t work if the side in power can eliminate any opposing voice.

The problem, of course, is that since the pendulum of power has shifted, giving conservatives an edge, we’ve discovered that cancel culture wasn’t invented by, and isn’t unique to, liberals. No, now that conservatives have the means to do so, they are astoundingly quick to attempt to suffocate any dissenting opinion. What is also astounding, is how quick both sides are to justify their version of cancel culture. If you point out to a conservative that he’s doing the same thing that infuriated him two years ago when a democrat did it, in response, you’ll hear an airtight case, explaining why it’s different when he does it. If you are passionate about your political beliefs, then you’re likely crafting a defense right now, explaining why it’s different when your side does it.

As I said, it’s infuriating to watch. Hypocrisy is ugly in any color. I would like to believe that I am above such behavior. I suspect though, that my moral high ground would evaporate if I were given enough power. When my addiction was first discovered by others, if I’d have been the king, and I had the means, I’m horrified to think about what I’d have done to those who threatened to expose my secret. It’s horrible and embarrassing to write, but I’m sure I would have at least contemplated murder if that meant keeping my career and family intact.

There are a lot of lessons here, but for me, the challenge is to remain continually honest about myself. It’s different when it’s me! Candid introspection isn’t easy though, and this isn’t just about cancel culture. This is about how I conduct my life. Often, in my self-destructive behavior, the first lie I tell is to myself. It’s difficult for us to be objective about ourselves. So, I must often go to my wife or a close friend, asking for an opinion. Is this hypocritical? Am I justifying sin? We’re all good at recognizing hypocrisy in others. If I desire the life God intends for me, I must be willing to recognize it in myself.