Remember not so long ago when those on the right of the political spectrum cried “cancel culture” and it was so confusing because absolutely none of them got cancelled and they just got louder, and meaner, and angrier, and more insulting? How the griping and complaining hit a fever pitch any time anyone promoted kindness, compassion, accountability, or justice for all? Remember the whining about how liberals controlled the media?

I just watched the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. I finally think I understand what cancel culture is really all about. It is when one side of a political system so fears the other side of a political system that it must do everything in its power to eliminate its voice, its presence, and its content. It happens when weak minded and immature egos lose sight of their power and purpose and use it for harm rather than for good. It is a sign of serious dysfunction and disease when those in political power become terrified of satire, comic dissent, and honest criticism.

Colbert is/was not for everybody. He is unapologetically liberal, progressive, inclusive of fringe minorities, and anti-fascist. He is a faithful and public Catholic, highlighting political breaches of morality and ethics at every turn. Agree with him or not, he serves as catalyst for deep and often painful reflection. Colbert held a mirror up to American culture and asked, “is this the best we can do?”

Colbert could be rude and offensive; comedy often is just this, but he also raised some serious questions and dealt with issues of significance facing our culture. At the heart, though, was comedy. And isn’t it sad that we have leaders in our administration who choose to ignore real life and death issues to go after pop culture comedians instead of doing their job? Sure, Colbert has some influence in the world, but really how much? Conservatives have the comic stylings of Greg Gutfeld, Karoline Leavitt, and Kid Rock to shape their minds and hearts, and to tell them what to think and who to hate. Why is it so much more offensive for liberals to share that stage?

I am going to miss Stephen Colbert a lot. I have not always appreciated his mockery and insult jokes, but have always valued the questions he raised, the challenges he offered, and some of the best interviews of late night television. He brought an intelligence and a passion through which to analyze current events. He made people politically aware whether they liked it or not. He held forth a vision for the best America can be and he displayed a very low tolerance for those seeking to stain the image of our country.

As one side of the political spectrum chose to vilify and insult him, as his own network who owed so much to him chose to disparage and demean him, he chose the high road, never turning on CBS or Paramount, but gracefully accepting a fate he would not have chosen for himself. In response to a totally classless and heinous decision he acted with grace, charm, and humility. Many praised him, honored him, celebrated him, and valued him for the treasure he has been. May we all learn to turn the other cheek and not let the bastards get us down. As a nation, a culture, a society, and a member of the global family of humankind, we are better than this. If we lose someone like Stephen Colbert, we lose the freedom of speech, and when we lose the freedom of speech we are truly lost. TV shows and TV personalities come and go. Shows begin and end. But this is something different. This has been a challenge to our constitution, to our moral compass, to our freedom for discourse and disagreement.

Cancelling talk shows, banning books, denying experts, reinstating racism and misogyny — these are all merely symptoms of a deeper disease. Somewhere, someone heard the phrase “ignorance is bliss,” and decided to build an entire political party in support of it. It is time, especially for Christians, to disagree.

You may have heard some politicians promote a platform: make America great again. Please remember that a key characteristic of our greatness is the freedom to express our opinions, our perspectives, our hopes, dreams, and aspirations without fear of recrimination, retribution, or revenge. Shame on us for allowing a decisive and provocative voice like Stephen Colbert’s to be silenced – for however short a time it might be.