New York magazine’s Ed Kilgore has an article out that argues that the notions of “wokeness” and “cancel culture” are vague — nothing more perhaps than a “temporary distraction for a political party that just lost a national election and then a congressional battle over public-health and economic policy, and has no particular policy legacy beyond culture-laden topics like border control after four years of narcissistic rule by Donald Trump.”
For those who need a concrete example of wokeness, I offer Exhibit A:
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
It is a copy of the game board for Monopoly, the playing of which has been a pastime that many Americans have engaged countless hours in well into adulthood. The change that has been inflicted on the game is more than cosmetic, as the New York Post explains:
After 85 years of cheap hospital bills, moderate stock earnings and maturing “Christmas funds” (whatever that means), Hasbro now plans to bring Monopoly into the increasingly “woke” 21st century.
The game-maker has decided to update its 16 Community Chest cards, which featured outdated prompts such as winning a “beauty contest,” actually receiving a “tax refund” or the now-rarely seen “bank error in your favor.”
In their place are more contemporary cards that evoke community service and social awareness. Swaps could include a reward for “shopping local all week,” rescuing a shelter pet or helping tend the community garden.
In a news release, the game maker explains that “the term ‘community’ has taken on a whole new meaning.” In that spirit, Hasbro is asking the public to join the company in retooling the 16 cards by choosing between two options. Will the newcomer to the deck be a bonus for raising money for a local hospital or a penalty for failing to recycle after throwing a party?
I am wondering whether the “get out of jail free” card has been scrapped altogether since in today’s woke society, everyone gets out of jail free.
My question for Kilgore and his fellow worshippers at the shrine of Holier-Than-Thou is whether they ever allow themselves to just have fun.
