How to Cancel Cancel Culture (or Not)
Preview:
The “public shaming of those deemed moral transgressors” and the use of mass media for partisan advantage are as old as the Republic. A prominent Republican newspaper, for example, called George Washington a traitor and his Farewell Address “the loathings of a sick mind.” And Federalists declared that Republicans intended to bring “a reign of terror to America from France.”
Fast forward to this week, when Republican hardliners “cancelled” House Speaker Kevin McCarthy — a first in American history.
Originally published: October 7, 2023
Author: David Wippman
Position: President
Institution: Hamilton College
Published by: The Messenger