Dr. Phil gave a profoundly important speech this weekend in New York City encouraging his fellow citizens to stand up to bullies.

He told the largest crowd he has ever spoken to in person,

I may not be an expert in politics, but I am an expert about bullying. And bullying is when you seek to harm somebody, you seek to intimidate, coerce, cause distress, fear, and cause risk to their well-being. It can be physical, verbal, relational, or cyber-bullying. And it’s always wrong.

He strongly encouraged Americans to never allow themselves to be bullied by people who use their power to make them feel ashamed of their deepest-felt convictions about life, liberty and the essential values that make our country great.

Dr. Phil acknowledged that bad things happen today to people who stand up for what is right, saying, “They get canceled, intimidated, marginalized, excluded, or even fired or boycotted.”

He continued, “And you know what that means? In short, that adds up to being bullied,” adding, “That’s what happening in this country right now, and that’s not okay!”

It’s time that everyone of us close ranks and stop this now! It’s time that we push back against cancel culture. It’s time that we push back against intimidation tactics.

He’s precisely right.

Good Christians and average citizens have silenced themselves because they fear what could happen if they were to fully speak up for what they believe and the way they vote. They fear what could happen to their reputations, livelihoods and their freedoms. They fear their friends, family members and even their own children with different beliefs might cut off relationships because of these convictions.

That is emotional bullying in the extreme.

It is unhealthy behavior, but it works in silencing people.

Dr. Phil is telling all Americans to refuse to be bullied by such tactics. Be bold in speaking up for what you believe. Never back down. Disregard what those who disagree with you might say or do to intimidate you. Our country needs good people to strongly stand for what they know is right.

It seems to be women who are more willing to take bold, convictional stands. They are doing it on the life issue. They are doing it on gender and trans issues. They are doing it on legal issues like religious freedom. They are doing it on racial politics. They are doing it on DEI and media manipulation.

We should all encourage such strength and do our best to replicate it.

As we engage the profoundly important issues facing our country and its future, we must do so with resolute courage. You will likely be bullied for those beliefs, but courageous citizens are never swayed or intimidated by such ploys. Strong individuals know what is true and always stand for it.

That was the important message that Dr. Phil delivered this weekend in New York City.

We should all take heed of it.