What is National Cancel Culture Awareness Day?
Cancel Culture Awareness Day is a national holiday observed on July 12th to bring attention to the dangerous practice of swiftly ruining reputations and destroying livelihoods through online attacks by internet mobs, without regard for free speech, due process, or severity of consequences.
Why was National Cancel Culture Awareness Day created?
Cancel Culture Awareness Day seeks to expose the harmful practice of Cancel Culture as incompatible with the universal values of freedom of speech, due process, atonement, compassion, and forgiveness. The day seeks to emphasize the benefits of open discourse and free thought, the right to due process, and an individual’s right to make a mistake, apologize, correct, and grow.
Canceling someone is at its essence censoring someone, which is fundamentally un-American and disregards what this country stands for. The practice is also void of compassion and encourages moral absolutism, often conveyed by those doing the canceling.
We are all human and susceptible to making mistakes, and thus we are all at risk of being canceled. It is unrealistic to live our lives with an expectation of perfection, under constant threat of irreparable cancellation.
Yes, one should always be held accountable for their actions, but accountability affords redemption. Cancel culture is another thing altogether, encouraging a disproportionate and vindictive response to a minor offense, and offering no hope of reconciliation. It aims to publicly destroy someone’s name, brand or livelihood, and is devoid of empathy. It is a dangerous practice that has to stop.
How should National Cancel Culture Awareness Day be observed?
Ways to bring awareness to the day include:
- Use the custom frame and GIF on social media
- Use #CANCELCANCELCULTURE on social media, for example:
- Choose Empathy – Not Outrage. #CANCELCANCELCULTURE
- Be Kind, Don’t Cancel. #CANCELCANCELCULTURE
- Remember the Golden Rule. #CANCELCANCELCULTURE
- Educate: Reach out to your network to educate them on the negative impact of cancel culture and how to defend against it. Info and resources are available at www.cancelculture.com.
- Show support: If you’re the leader of a business/organization who supports free speech and diversity of thought, declare your support of National Cancel Culture Awareness Day to your network and on your social media channels.