TARIF: Responding to Cancel Culture

The Egyptian pyramids have yet to be cancelled. If Cancel Culture has its way, the Great Sphinx may be next. Ramses II, father of more than fifty sons and Pharaoh of Egypt for sixty-seven years, inscribed these words on his throne: "I am [Ramses II], King of Kings. If anyone would seek to know how great I am and where I lie, let him surpass one of my works." His works were great indeed, in part because he constructed these awesome structures on the backs of thousands of slaves. Slavery? Doesn’t this mean we should raze them to the ground? Today, there aren't many calls for the demolition of the pyramids, mostly because it doesn't fit the narrative. But the questions remain: Should we cancel others? What is Cancel Culture? Is Cancel Culture new?