A toxic brew is developing in America that should concern all of us. Among some politicians, media, academics, and other influential voices, we see the growth of what I call the “Cancel and Idolize Culture.”
The “cancel” impulse seeks to silence voices and thoughts contrary to the preferred norm and impose uniformity on a diverse society. For example, when the new administration took office in late January, some members of their party proclaimed that anyone who worked for the previous administration—no matter what their position—should never be employed by the government again. Such a heavy-handed attempt in Washington occurred before, over 200 years ago. At that time, the Federalist Party of John Adams unilaterally rammed a set of laws through Congress called the “Alien and Sedition Acts,” which tried to make it illegal for the opposing party (known then as Republicans) to speak critically of the government. It took a while for the nation to realize that “thought police” imposition ran directly contrary to our Bill of Rights.
The “idolize” impulse goes beyond merely admiring and honoring people who have done worthy things to being in awe of them as being without flaw or defect. Out of loyalty to our heroes or leaders, we mistakenly put them on impossibly high pedestals and deny their less-than-ideal qualities. For example, on the anniversary of the former NBA star Kobe Bryant’s tragic accidental death, USA Today published the reflections of a sportswriter who had just finished a book on Bryant and the L.A. Lakers sports dynasty. The player was a complex mixture of some admirable qualities and some ugly ones. Some of Kobe’s fans reacted by vilifying the writer and refusing to acknowledge their hero’s imperfections. Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement bristle at any mention of the flaws and mistakes of George Floyd or Martin Luther King Jr. Political conservatives likewise bristle at any discussion of Ronald Reagan’s memory lapses and errors in his final years in the White House or any criticism of Donald Trump’s last weeks in office.
The twin extremes of “canceling” people we don’t like (or who have done something disapproved) and “idolizing” those we admire as champions of our cause both involve the same fundamental blunder about human nature. No one is entirely good and virtuous, nor is anyone all bad and irredeemable. We are all a mixture of noble and ignoble desires and actions. Because a person has once said something offensive on social media or made a poor choice does not justify endless punishment and rejection. Because a person has done some-thing exemplary does not mean that they are perfect. Recognizing the truth of human nature is necessary, to be honest with ourselves (appropriately humble) and honest about others.
Mankind’s instinct is to want justice to be meted out to everyone who has done wrong (or at least something we think is wrong), but to want mercy for ourselves (because indeed there are good reasons and excuses to justify the wrongs we have done). Actually, the world needs a healthy mixture of both justice and mercy.
That is why we regularly pray The Lord’s Prayer; it reminds us that, just as we desire forgiveness for our debts, so we are also committing ourselves to forgive others their failures. Mercy cannot be reserved only for ourselves and our party and the people who agree with us. Even for those who have done serious wrong, true repentance and change are possible as long as there is life.
by Pastor Doug Pratt
