Will Democracy Survive

Cancel Culture Hypocrisy

Anni and Father Dunkin were sitting in his parish office when their conversation turned to the controversial topic of "cancel culture." Anni was animated as she shared an experience she recently had.

"You know, Father Dunkin," Anni began, "I overheard someone the other day say, 'I hate liberals and their cancel culture.  Remember when Biden's weaponized   justice department kicked Trump off the old Twitter and more recently wouldn't allow him to testify in his own trial or allow his defence team to bring in their own experts.  It's criminal what's happening.  I believe in free speech and I pray that Trump is re-elected and censors liberal organizations like NPR, the FBI, the CIA, most library books, liberal college professors,  Democratic lawmakers, the Department of Education, PBS, and any other liberal-funded organizations.' Father Dunkin It was mind-boggling."

Anni pointed out that Trump made the following claim during his trial, "I'm not allowed to testify. I'm under a gag order. I guess, right?" He added, "I'm not allowed to testify, because this judge, who's totally conflicted, has me under an unconstitutional gag order." He continued by complaining that he's "not allowed to talk" even when others attack him, then said again, "So I'm not allowed to testify because of an unconstitutional gag order."  Anni told Father Dunkin, "That was a lie and the judge pointed it out in court by saying, 'Trump's claim is false. He is allowed to testify at the trial; the decision is entirely up to him.'"

Father Dunkin nodded thoughtfully. "It's quite the paradox, isn't it? The idea of cancel culture has become a weaponized phrase  used by the extremist right. Organizations like the Stanford Internet Observatory (SIO), which study disinformation and the abuse of social media platforms by extremist groups, have faced immense scrutiny from the right. Republicans allege their work amounts to censorship."

"Exactly," Anni continued. "The SIO and the University of Washington, aimed to track false and misleading information about the 2020 and 2022 elections. But it quickly became the target of conspiracy theories, accused of being a front for government suppression of free speech."

Father Dunkin sighed. "Researchers at Stanford, UW, and similar institutions have faced lawsuits, subpoenas, and online harassment. It's costing them millions in legal fees and is a huge distraction from their core work. The hostile climate has even made it difficult for them to raise funds."

Anni added, "And then there's Jim Jordan, who celebrates these setbacks as victories for free speech. He's accused the SIO of being part of a 'censorship regime.' It's ironic because these same conservatives who cry 'cancel culture' are often the ones silencing voices they disagree with."

Father Dunkin leaned back, reflecting. "It's a stark contradiction. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a prime example. She constantly complains about being a victim of cancel culture, yet she has a massive platform to air her grievances. The same goes for Ted Cruz and others at events like the Conservative Political Action Conference, where they decry 'cancel culture' while enjoying extensive media coverage."

"It's laughable," Anni said. "Josh Hawley claimed his book deal was canceled because he supported overturning the election, calling it an assault on free speech. Yet he quickly found a new publisher and hasn't mentioned his lawsuit since."

Anni continued, "And when social media companies began to ban users for violating their policies, conservatives sued them for violating the First Amendment. But that's ridiculous because these are private companies."

Anni explained that the First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the freedom of speech, among other rights. However, this protection primarily applies to government actions, preventing the federal government from censoring or restricting individual speech. Private institutions like Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms are not considered government entities, and have their own terms of service and community guidelines. They can legally impose restrictions on speech that violates their policies, even if those restrictions aren't covered by the First Amendment. Users agree to these rules when they join, and violations can lead to content removal, suspension, or account termination."

Father Dunkin listened intently as Anni continued, "The First Amendment ensures that the government cannot infringe upon a person's right to free speech, but it doesn't absolve individuals of the potential consequences of their speech. If someone's speech incites violence, spreads false information, constitutes defamation, or violates other laws, they can still be held liable."

She added, "Recently, Alex Jones, the alt-right talk show host, was ordered to liquidate his assets for falsely claiming that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. His lies led to constant harassment of the victims' families by his extremist followers. In essence, the First Amendment protects against government censorship, but it doesn't grant an absolute right to say anything without consequences, and it doesn't extend to private entities' actions on their platforms."

Anni continued, "As the far right complains about being victimized by the cancel culture they are busy  passing suppression laws to restrict voting in primarily black districts and of course pushing book bans and anything else that doesn't fit their ideals. 

Father Dunkin nodded. "Their outrage over 'cancel culture' is a distraction from real issues. It's about maintaining their power and silencing marginalized voices who are now able to hold them accountable."

Anni concluded, "In the end, what these conservatives are really angry about isn't censorship. It's the loss of their unchallenged dominance. They're frustrated that they can no longer push their racist, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic agendas without facing backlash."

Father Dunkin agreed. "It's a reminder that the fight for true free speech and equality is ongoing. We must continue to support those who expose disinformation and hold power to account, even in the face of adversity."

Their conversation underscored the complexities and contradictions of the current political landscape, a testament to the ongoing struggle for a more just and truthful society.