Culture wars that reshape societies

Anyone who grew up watching Disney's classic animated film Snow White might find its recent live-action remake jarring.

- LEE BYUNG-JONG

The fair-skinned Snow White of the original has been replaced by Rachel Zegler, a Latina actress with a darker complexion. The princess is no longer a passive damsel awaiting rescue by a prince but an assertive heroine who fights the Evil Queen and forges her own destiny. These changes have sparked a heated debate in the US. Some praise the remake for promoting racial diversity and challenging gender stereotypes, while others argue it strays too far from the original, embracing political correctness to an extreme.

This controversy highlights the growing cultural polarization in the US, exacerbated by President Trump's opposition to progressive ideals. Preaching traditional family values, Trump has waged a culture war against so-called "wokeness," which promotes diversity, equity and inclusion. Since taking office, he has issued a series of executive orders aimed at reversing progressive policies of the past. For instance, he has threatened to defund universities that allow transgender women to compete in women's sports. Trump has also pushed to revoke birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, despite constitutional protections.