What is “Cancel Culture”?

What is “Cancel Culture”?  

Before we dive into this we need to investigate when cancel culture started and where. 

What has been recently coined by the phrase “cancel culture” is something that has been around for a very long time.  I don’t know the first instance of humans gathering to protest something being done or undone by those in charge.  I’m sure it can be traced all the way back to the first civilizations. 

Let’s aim for something a little more recent.  In 1688 Quaker’s in Germantown Pennsylvania issued a petition that was the first protest of African American Slavery by a religious body in the English colonies.

The protesters wrote a petition based upon the Bible’s Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

History shows us that this protest did not have the intended effect of “cancelling slavery”.

American history is chocked full of more recent examples of people banding together to address an issue that they felt needed changing.  From protests for women’s rights to the labor movement, gay and lesbian rights as well as the abortion issue, likeminded people have been banding together to fight for what they believe in for a very long time.

So along comes the most recent iteration which is concerning the Transgender issue.  These days it is centered around Dave Chappelle and his most recent “so called” comedy special on Neflix entitled “The Closer”.

Yes, I watched it even through I am not a fan of Chappelle’s comedy and yes, I would have to agree that he went too far with his act.

I won’t go point by point about the special but there was more than a far amount of crap to get upset with.

One big issue I have is what Chappelle talked about his trans friend Daphne Dorman’s suicide and how he turned it into a fucking joke at the end.

No, I’m not repeating the joke, but I will tell you that it made me ill to hear it. 

Considering that almost 50% of us have either tried or succeeded in committing suicide. 

The reasons are many as to why so many of us do this.  Everything from a lack of support among family and friends to discrimination can leave someone feeling so hopeless that seemingly the only remaining option is to put an end to their pain and misery.

I knew a teenager who would vehemently tell anyone who told a rape joke that “rape is never funny.”

Well to me suicide is never funny.

Free speech is in fact free speech and every person in this country has the right to speak their mind.  It does not relieve them of the consequences of their speech should there be any.

Here is an example that I have mentioned many times over the years.  Yes, you have the right to speak.  You do not have the right to yell fire in a crowded theater unless something is burning.

Dave is a bit put off that all of the studios that were going to show his documentary have pulled out. 

Why did they do this?  Perhaps they have realized that the “alphabet people” represent a very large portion of their customer base and when you piss in our corn flakes you don’t get our dollars.

Sorry Dave but I have cancelled my Netflix.