William He, Period 7, 12/8/22

William He

Period 7

12/8/2022

Socio-Political Consciousness

In the recent years, we have made great progress in spreading awareness and addressing the issues of inequality, discrimination, freedom, and identity. However, the problem still exists and we are living in the moment where these ideas are still in constant motion and debate. The fact that these problems are still being talked about and trying to be solved today is a great thing, making the world more fair and creating opportunities for all people. For example, now there are many ways workers can defend themselves against unfair treatment and discrimination in the workplace. 

But sometimes, the discussion around these issues is handled incorrectly and debate is often stifled and turns into a heated war where parties arguing for different sides are trying to eliminate or “cancel” the other side instead of coming up with compromises or understanding each side and perspective. Commonly termed “cancel culture” in various social media platforms, it is an issue created in recent years due to conflicts among different groups with different ideas. There have been many victims of “cancel culture” recently and they range from large influencers to students. Usually, getting canceled means a great deal of public embarrassment or shaming, but in more serious cases, their lives are ruined, hurting their public image so much that many schools and workplaces turn these people away. In addition, often, the victims are not given a second chance. “Cancel culture” removes any room for self-improvement and reflection. I have changed drastically over the course of my life and I am confident I can say the same for others. You are not the same person you were years ago. All of this stems from an unpopular opinion they had about society based on their perspective and values. Of course, freedom of speech is not absolute as of today, and for obvious reasons. You cannot threaten any sort of violence because it will have to be taken seriously. But the problem is when societal norms require you to conform or risk being targeted and having your life be ruined forever. It greatly reduces the amount of insightful contrasting opinions, which is good and needed when debating about issues that have various standpoints. Overall, I hope that this issue be addressed and discussion of societal issues become more open to other opinions, inviting more people to have a say and share their thoughts instead of being something to stay away from for fear of ruining your life.