Steve Corbin, Professor Emeritus of Marketing, University of Northern Iowa
Charlie Chaplin once said “A day without laughter is a wasted day of life.” Life around my father (Lester Corbin, 1909-2000) was full of jokes, teasing, and what became known as “Lester”. Grew up around the humor of Red Skelton, Red Foxx, Jonathan Winters, Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Laurel, Hardy and a Mad Magazine subscription. I was programmed to seek laughter.
If these comedians were alive, what they’d do these days in the G.O.P. “Cancel Woke Culture” It even makes card-carrying Republicans laugh. There are over 400 companies, products, and individuals.GOP Party Leaders “cancel” (i.e., boycott) if they question Donald Trump’s leadership or oppose Republican values on racism, gender, race, diversity, equity, inclusion, social injustice, health, and balance in life. Because you have the attitude to correspond. Here are some examples.
United, USA, Delta Airlines? cancel!
Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz Rental? cancel!
McDonald’s, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Cracker Barrel, Golden Coler, Taco Bell, IHOP, Red Lobster? cancel!
Sports Enthusiast: NFL, NBA, MLB? cancel!
HBO and Netflix? cancel!
french fries? Yes, fries. cancel!
Harley-Davidson? I could not do it. cancel!
Hershey, Procter & Gamble, Kelloggs, Nabisco, Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola? cancel!
you have, just have to do an internet search “A list of things conservatives have canceled.” similarly “Nebraska Taxpayers for Freedom.” Guaranteed, you’ll laugh.
It is ironic that Republicans believe in free enterprise, but oppose the environmental, social, and pro-government (ESG) factors that make successful businesses successful. Additionally, GOP candidates must be cognizant of the fact that the majority of registered Republicans support corporate ESG efforts.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “woke up” if there is “Recognize and actively attend to important facts and issues, especially racial and social justice issues.” (2021). Being woke means being alert to racial prejudice and discrimination, being alert to social problems, and challenging oppression.
Martin Luther King once said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about important things.” Racial and social justice issues are important.For this reason alone, there is a “A compelling case to wake up and choose growth.” (American Academy of Psychiatry and Journal of the Law).
America’s younger classes (Millennials, ages 27-42 and Generation Z, ages 11-26) identify as America’s most elated culturally fighting for social justice, equal rights, and equal opportunity. This is a group. In turn, they are the most active social media users who have easily aired their fight against injustice, intolerance, and discrimination. Finally, Millennials are the largest electorate, and the turnout of ZZ voters in 2022 was higher than that of General X’ers (43-58 age range) and Millennials.
Because more young voters (under 42) will intentionally avoid GOP candidates in the 2024 election, as the Republican Party promotes the beliefs of the culture that inspired Cancel. Voters over 42 rebel against the stupidity of the culture that Cancel the GOP has awakened.
Republican presidential candidates support canceled woke culture, gender pay gap, sex discrimination, racial inequality, LGBTQIA rights, sexual harassment, sexual assault, environment and climate change, Not being aware of issues like First Amendment rights, things like Nazis, book bans, fair voter registration, unencumbered voting opportunities? They include former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, Gov. Ron DeSantis, Gov. Doug Burgum, former Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott, and Vivek Ramaswamy. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rejected the culture war rhetoric of his GOP peers (Time, June 7).
The GOP’s 2020 presidential campaign had no platform, and we saw how that worked. The Republican Party’s 2024 Cancel Wake Culture Platform will become a joke on November 5, 2024, with only 24% of Republican voter support.
Americans must wake up compassionately to issues of racial and social justice. Otherwise you must be asleep. Are you awake or asleep?
Steve Corbin is professor emeritus of marketing at the University of Iowa.
