I am among those who despise the phrase “the story repeats itself”.
The use of the phrase is usually a cry for attention or a sign of intellectual laziness.
And the two are unluckily not mutually exclusive.
But it is such a well-used expression that they usually have an existence basis.
And now it is happening with freedom of speech, where the two aspects of American politics switch to being a language police.
It has all become an eternal dance of abuse of power,hollow protest and hypocrisy.
Cancellation is part of the toolbox
After the attack on Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump has gone away from the promise of him to «bring back free speech in America».
The Trump government got the talk show host Jimmy Kimmel taken off the air by True TV channel ABC After speculation from Kimmel about the man who killed Charlie Kirk.
Trump has even come with more statements about freedom of speech and TV channel broadcasting dish which shows that previous promises of freedom of speech no longer apply.
Henrik Heldahl
Henrik Heldahl is a trained political scientist, political journalist in Nettavisen and program director in the online newspaper podcast “Hero Texas”. Heldahl regularly comments on American politics in Norwegian media and writes and contributes to the website American politics.no and the podcast American politics.
The left’s Self-Inflicted Wound
The cultural landscape has undergone a significant shift, and a key factor in this conversion is the left’s own actions. For years, the left enjoyed a period of cultural ascendancy, gaining ground in media, entertainment, higher education, and the broader battle for values. They approached a point of cultural hegemony, but ultimately overplayed their hand.
This self-asserted dominance led to a wave of “cancellation” attempts, targeting individuals for perceived transgressions. The consequences were far-reaching, impacting figures like Megyn Kelly and sparking boycotts, as seen with J.K. Rowling. This aggressive approach created a climate of fear and stifled open debate.
The Democratic party’s internal struggles during the 2020 presidential nomination process further exemplified this trend. The competition centered around appeasing activists, leading the party to embrace “Woke” ideologies.Kamala Harris, in particular, would later face repercussions for this alignment.
Ultimately, donald Trump and the right emerged as the political beneficiaries of this dynamic. It appeared the visa overstayed its welcome, but then came the latest story, repeating familiar patterns.
9/11 and Iraq again
The current political atmosphere bears a striking resemblance to the period following 9/11, as Nate Silver observes. This comparison is apt, as the roles of narrow-mindedness have seemingly reversed. Those who remember the Bush era recall a time when similar accusations were leveled against the right.
George W. Bush’s presidency (2001-2009) was marked by a constricted debate climate,particularly concerning 9/11 and the Iraq War. National pride surged, and dissent was often equated with a lack of patriotism.
Americans felt particularly vulnerable in the years following 9/11. A strong sense of national pride permeated the country, leaving little room for disagreement. Criticism of the Iraq invasion was often branded as anti-American, a sentiment that conservative forces readily exploited. Even MSNBC,a traditionally left-leaning channel,faced criticism for its coverage.
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