Canceling Jimmy Kimmel is a sign of impending dictatorship. Soon unthinkable things will be happening, like kicking ordinary people off social media for dissent, arresting folks for humorous memes, maybe even government collaboration with tech companies to silence the opposition.

This summer, Irene, our eight-year-old daughter, welcomed a new companion named Purple, a small, plush cat with short legs, a tiny tail, and a round, stuffed body. Irene received Purple as a memento during our family’s trip to Yancheng, China. Together, they embarked on an