We are living in a time that has been taken over by a gigantic scam. Everyone knows it but there are few brave enough to call it out. And when they do, they are ‘cancelled.‘ Cancel culture has made us fearful and backward as a society;
When friends are willing to ignore and shun one another without engaging in conversation, a clear danger emerges: debate begins to die. If people are not willing to address opposing beliefs, progress will be halted.
https://www.thejustice.org/article/2020/10/its-time-to-cancel-cancel-culture
This gigantic scam is perpetrated on us by ‘woke activists’ and some political leaders are calling it out;
Quebec Premier François Legault, took to Facebook this weekend to voice his concerns on the growing problem of cancel culture, woke leftism and “radical militants” in the province. . . .
Quebec’s Premier stated that cancel culture is the work of a handful of radical activists whose goal is to censor certain words and actions. He added that he is concerned that cancel culture is infiltrating the mainstream in Quebec, and that this American movement does not represent the values of Quebecers.
https://thepostmillennial.com/quebec-premier-calls-out-cancel-culture-woke-leftism-promises-action-to-fight-back?fbclid=IwAR0IyLYarirz7Y7kJic6S9HybzLdosnZ0CldQUV3M0I4RqyAe5SDOUO6Y5U
But a few leaders exposing the scam isn’t enough. There are always other leaders more willing to politically capitalize on perpetuating the scam. There is always enough of a population ‘woke’ and willing to vote for them.
There’s a great story by Hans Christian Andersen about a vain and fickle emperor who gets taken by two scam artists Not only does the emperor get taken in by the scam but his ministers and subjects are as well.
Wikipedia provides a summary of the plot;
Two swindlers arrive at the capital city of an emperor who spends lavishly on clothing at the expense of state matters. Posing as weavers, they offer to supply him with magnificent clothes that are invisible to those who are stupid or incompetent. The emperor hires them, and they set up looms and go to work. A succession of officials, and then the emperor himself, visit them to check their progress. Each sees that the looms are empty but pretends otherwise to avoid being thought a fool. Finally, the weavers report that the emperor’s suit is finished. They mime dressing him and he sets off in a procession before the whole city. The townsfolk uncomfortably go along with the pretense, not wanting to appear inept or stupid, until a child blurts out that the emperor is wearing nothing at all. The people then realize that everyone has been fooled. Although startled, the emperor continues the procession, walking more proudly than ever.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Emperor%27s_New_Clothes
Everybody in the story knows it’s a scam but for their own self-serving reasons don’t want to expose themselves to possible ridicule or criticism – so they go along with the foolishness.
So off went the Emperor in procession under his splendid canopy. Everyone in the streets and the windows said, “Oh, how fine are the Emperor’s new clothes! Don’t they fit him to perfection? And see his long train!” Nobody would confess that he couldn’t see anything, for that would prove him either unfit for his position, or a fool. No costume the Emperor had worn before was ever such a complete success.
https://andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheEmperorsNewClothes_e.html
The scam works because of self-serving fear and lack of integrity in the population and their leaders. Not because it’s particularly diabolical or deceptive -a child can see through it;
“But he hasn’t got anything on,” a little child said.
“Did you ever hear such innocent prattle?” said its father. And one person whispered to another what the child had said, “He hasn’t anything on. A child says he hasn’t anything on.”
https://andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheEmperorsNewClothes_e.html
The child’s observation isn’t enough because the child is cancelled. But people do start whispering between themselves. And finally the truth is out in the open. But that isn’t enough;
“But he hasn’t got anything on!” the whole town cried out at last.
The Emperor shivered, for he suspected they were right. But he thought, “This procession has got to go on.” So he walked more proudly than ever, as his noblemen held high the train that wasn’t there at all.
https://andersen.sdu.dk/vaerk/hersholt/TheEmperorsNewClothes_e.html
We are living the lesson of H.C. Andersen’s little tale. When the adults in a population who know better allow a few scam artists to take over society you get to the point where the leaders continue with the madness because ‘This procession has got to go on!’ And everybody pays the price for the Emperor’s New Clothes.
And what a price it is!