The Antis

The world's most powerful people striking out at "the mob" is a complete failure to acknowledge their privilege or to understand that "cancel culture" is a valuable form of protest that has emerged out of a failure in traditional channels to address injustice.

It is easy to forget the debates at the heart of these signatories' pleas. Those are around racism, transphobia, white supremacy, the agency a woman should have over her own body, and more. This is not a question of making mistakes. It is one of whether we can overlook morally insidious ideas that deny the right of people to exist, or to live equally amongst others. There can only be one answer: no. It is a troubling sign of just how long the road to dismantle systemic privilege is when an elite few choose to see these problems as open to debate. Proponents include Guardian journalist Nesrine Malik.

The irony of the Harper's letter is clear: over 150 artists with millions and millions of followers summated, airing their grievances of being "censored." Any suggestion that any criticism of their ideas has made them voiceless therefore smacks of pettiness.

The signatories want to cancel 'cancel culture' and can't deal with the open debate they seek to foster. The letter is a demand for public figures to be able to say whatever they want to, hold unpalatable views, and incite hatred without being held accountable.

We are at a point of severe global uncertainty. To choose their popularity, book sales, or Twitter followers as the cause to bring to the world's attention is tone-deaf. It shows just how little we should listen to their cries for attention.