Part 2/11:
Cancel culture is no longer just about removing problematic individuals; it has morphed into a weapon wielded against anyone who deviates from a prescribed ideological line. The targeted person often faces not only professional ruin but also personal harassment, threats, and social ostracization. Even those surrounding them—friends, colleagues, and supporters—find themselves under fire as the network seeks to enforce conformity.
A striking example is the open letter published in Harper’s Magazine, signed by reputable academics and writers, condemning the increasing constriction of free speech. They describe a cultural landscape where open debate is stifled by public shaming, moral certainty, and intolerance—traits incompatible with liberalism and American values.