We took issue here recently with John Legend’s lyrics’ rework of the Frank Loesser Christmas classic, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and — based on strong , supportive public response that we have heard anecdotally around the area, as well as the dissenting letter to the editor appearing elsewhere on this page — we feel compelled to re-enter the boxing ring of ideas for a round two.

As previously noted, Legend is just one in the vanguard of those capitalizing on the clamor by America’s “Cancel Culture” to either eliminate or change anything (or anyone)  — in music, literature, art, etc. —  that it finds offensive to its modern sensibilities, despite their own reputation for terrible behavior and obsession with social media that breeds ignorance and dogmatic thinking, versus reading challenging and critical books featuring viewpoints from all directions — and especially learning history — a painfully (and noticable) weak area for the “woke”-sters.

The “Cancel Culture” is very reminsiscent of Stalin’s efforts after the communist takeover of Russia — and of the Cultural Revolution led by Chairman Mao in China.

As for “Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” which some in the #MeToo era “feel” is akin to a yuletide “pick-up artist tutorial” and have complained loudly, resulting in in a number of radio stations — fearing a boycott of their advertisers by the “sensitivity” fanatics — banning it from their airwaves. Have any of the critics researched the song’s history?

Specifically, mutliple sources note that the song began life as a “party piece” for high society soirees of the 1940s. Its composer, Loesser — who penned all of the songs to “Guys and Dolls,” among his many other notable accomplishments (arguably his greatest song was “Luck Be a Lady”) — wrote “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” in 1944 to perform with his wife Lynn Garland at their housewarming party in New York.

Garland later stated that the song was their “ticket to caviar and truffles. We became instant parlor room stars We got invited to all the best parties for years....” Loesser subsequently sold the song to MGM for use in the romantic comedy film “Neptune’s Daughter,” a move that reportedly infuriated his wife.

The song won the 1949 Academy Award for Best Original Song — and has become a much-beloved Christmas song over the years, despite never mentioning the holiday.

Now, as pundit Piers Morgan recently put it, “easily offended millenial ‘snowflakes,’” touting their “modern sensibilities,” want to ban or rework Loesser’s “master painting” of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside” and other classics in the arts. 

We agree with the assessment of Mike Read, “Breakfast Show” presenter on United DJs, who said of the Legend remake, “Too revisionist. A handful of dissenters these days seem to have the loudest voices. Nothing better to do than look for anything that may appear to cause offense. Few being offended on behalf of those who aren’t remotely offended.” Read then quips, “Bring back the stocks and the cat o’ nine tails!”

We (again) urge Legend to write something original — and lasting, rather than “repainting” — for political purposes — musical masterpieces ... like “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.”