Bret Stephens ranted about “cancel culture” once again in yesterday’s NYT column. As anyone who reads this blog is aware, I am sympathetic, but I have two questions for him:
- Who is his audience for these diatribes?
- What is he seeking to accomplish?
Typically, NYT opinion columnists write in the hopes of persuading the federal government to do something, or to stop doing something. In the case of “cancel culture,” we are talking about behavior by young left-wing activists that manifests itself on social media or, occasionally, at the local government level. The federal government in no way caused it, has nothing to do with it, and has no power to stop it.
This is a case of a million tiny tyrants. There is no Orwellian monster to restrain. Even GOP control of government at all levels won’t solve the problem–at least, not without massive and unwelcome changes to our system of government. If Stephens wants to get anywhere with the blue culture warriors, he has to convince them they’re wrong, not ridicule them or count on NYT readers to shut them up.