In response to global protests in 2020, numerous controversial monuments were removed across the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. While these actions sparked debates about cancel culture, the key question remains: can societies remove or alter public symbols without engaging in cancel culture?
This article argues that meaningful change is possible without disrespecting historical complexity or individuals. Drawing on Linda Radzik’s theory of justified social punishment, it suggests that cancel culture is morally problematic when it lacks fundamental respect. Instead, changes to public monuments should be guided by transparency, public dialogue, and inclusive ethical principles — ensuring that recontextualization becomes a process of healing, not erasure.
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