Tolerance: the ability or willingness to tolerate (put up with) something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.
There is no question that tolerance is a virtue in our society. Politicians, teachers and various groups have put a premium on promoting tolerance.
But here is the thing about most tolerance promoters, very few of them are promoting tolerance. They tend to have an exclusive view that they want to promote as the only acceptable view. In addition, they have an agenda to go after anyone that opposes their ideology, which tends to be the most politically correct view. This is not playing the role of a genuine, friendly tolerance promoter; it is bullying others into changing their opinions.
Some gay rights activists claim to be tolerance promoters, but that doesn't seem to be true for all of them. The fact is they are not all promoting tolerance; they are promoting an exclusive view that they want to make the only acceptable train of thought in society. For the most part, a group such as LGBT (gay rights activist group) approaches its cause the same way as its sometimes-obnoxious opponents. The organization is on a mission to drown out any opposing opinion by having the loudest voice.
True tolerance has to works both ways on this topic and every other issue. Religious groups or various other organizations must tolerate the various lifestyles of our culture without picketing events. However, at the same time, they have every right to hold an opposing view and have certain standards within their organization.
In this past December, Duck Dynasty star Phil Robertson offended people by saying he believes homosexuality is sin. The LGBT and left-wing media groups went after him to the point where A & E suspended him for a short period of time. Here's the problem with this, they went after him with the reasoning that he isn't tolerant. Yet they showed zero tolerance to his Christian views, in addition to those who hold the traditional views of Catholicism, Islam, Judaism and various other ideologies. This is blind hypocrisy at its finest.
A true tolerant organization or person wouldn't have gone after Roberton's head for his comments. The true tolerant reaction would be simply to say, 'I don't agree with him, but he's entitled to his opinion.'
Moreover, why would one person's opinion get so many people upset? Some will try to argue they are intolerant of a certain view because they know that it is wrong. That could be the case; they might hold the incorrect view. But getting upset and angry over an opposing idea stems from being insecure about your own opinion. It's ultimately a blatant sign of immaturity when you get extremely angry over an opposing person's opinion. The world doesn't revolve around your feelings.
I read stories and hear various opinions all of the time that I don't agree with. I don't write complaints or get upset about it because I respect the value of true tolerance.
It is extremely important for our culture to continue mature dialogue. We need to discuss views and be open minded to opposing ideas. We shouldn't, however, have any part in the way most of the modern day tolerance activitists go about their business. They ignorantly try to promote their opinion as the only acceptable view with the loudest voice.
KF
