Wall Street Journal Won't Cancel Thanksgiving Editorials

As we've explained throughout the fall, cancel culture is effective only when the target obeys. Cancel culture is a product of compliance, not power. Once a target says no, the progressives crumble and walk away in misery. The Wall Street Journal delivered the movement another blow this week.

Recently, some website called Change.org, which calls itself "the world's platform for change," published a petition that demands that the Journal stops posting its annual Thanksgiving editorials. The petition has gathered some 50,000 signatures. Here's Change's argument:

Most outlets would have immediately obeyed Change's demands, then issued an apology for their previous posts. However, the Wall Street Journal says it won't comply.

Since 1961, the Journal has run a pair of Thanksgiving editorials written initially by its former editor Vermont Royster. The first is a historical account about the Pilgrims in 1620, while the second is a contemporary contrast from the mid-20th century about the progress America has made, progress for which all citizens should be thankful.

"The editorials are popular with readers, who tell us they appreciate the sentiments about hardship and gratitude during what should be a unifying national holiday," the Journal writes. "For decades we've run them with nary a discouraging word."

The Journal says the two editorials recount the bravery and trials of the Pilgrims as they sought a better life in a new land.

"The petition makes a historical point, which is fair enough, but then wraps it in the grievances of contemporary politics to claim the editorial is racist."

Ahh, that's right. Petitions always add in allegations of racism for effect.

The Journal's rebuttal makes a strong point near the end, noting that the petition isn't to promote debate but to shut it down. The country needs more discussion, not less. People and companies should defend their side of the argument, not silence themselves.

So props to the Wall Street Journal for firing back, defending its editorials with reason, and not bowing to these unreasonable rodents.

The Wall Street Journal joins Netflix, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, Dave Chappelle, and Dave Portnoy in the winnable fight against cancel culture. And each battle has further exposed the shallowness of the woke's over-indexed influence.