Cancel culture is a problem that has become embedded into today’s political and cultural systems. Most of us have heard of or, quite frankly, participated in this practice, including myself. However, as the years have gone on, it has become increasingly harmful to cancel someone after a singular event that is deemed politically incorrect. It is healthier to build a conversation with the offender rather than ostracize them. How does exclusion foster a community of healthy political and social discourse when you take the person that creates the problem out of the picture?
Canceling someone does not rid our culture of the problem, rather it continues the cycle of contempt between groups of people, as well as leading to inaction. Not only does cancel culture create an environment where constructive conversations, forgiveness, and change are impossible to attain, but it also creates fear. People are afraid to share their opinions, which in turn creates a space where diverse opinions are not welcome.
I must establish that I am not encouraging people to partake in harmful practices, such as oppressing minority groups. However, I am saying that people make mistakes and disagree with one another and that is okay! We are all humans trying to figure out our way through life. When people slip up we should hold them accountable by expecting more of them, not shunning them completely. It is the only way we can truly grow and move forward.
Piper Mans is from Excelsior, Minn.
Her major is sociology/anthropology
