You’re familiar with the term “cancel culture”, right?
Offend someone, which really you can do these days just by breathing, and you’ll be canceled.
You might be kicked out of a social circle.
You might be kicked out of an organization you work for or volunteer with.
You might be kicked out of a church.
You might be sued.
You might be forced to close a business you created.
The current mob rule climate seeks to cancel and discredit anyone who dares to disagree with the (usually, but not always, liberal) party line.
We can’t just punish someone we think did wrong. We can’t just fire someone or ask for their resignation, we have to make them suffer. We have to make sure they face financial ruin and have all possible sources of income removed from the realm of possibility.
And they might not have done anything wrong.
Except express a difference of opinion.
We can’t have a discussion.
We can’t seek first to understand.
We can’t agree to disagree and go have a beverage together.
We have to cancel them and pretend they never existed.
The self-appointed Holy Roman Emperors of our day are on one heck of a rampage. Roman Emperors might be more historically accurate, although everyone seems to think their own cause is holy.
A lack of diversity in thought, though, can be dangerous. A leader who can’t be questioned? That’s how dictators and despots and genocides happen.
In case you’re wondering, I Googled “who was the most brutal roman emperor”. Caligula seems to be the consensus of the SEO gods, although his cruelty most assuredly was spurred by actual insanity. Nero knew what he was doing. So we’ll go with Nero.
There are interesting theories that “666” in the book of Revelation is a thinly veiled numerology reference spelling out N-E-R-O. So it may be Nero’s number, not Satan’s number, but as I understand the history there wasn’t a whole lot of difference.
In yet another side note rabbit trail … I was informed recently there is an Emperors of Rome podcast in existence. I probably need to start binging it soon.
So while Rome burns I think I’ll go for a walk. And get my hair done. And, I don’t know, do you think I should take up the violin?
Peace and love, my people.
