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allowance
December 2008 
How tolerant are you?
Posted on Nov 18th, 2008
by 
Oracle Phoenix
Oracle Phoenix
This is in Response to the Questions and Reflections for January 15, 2008:
The best way to answer this, I think, is with a quote from Bill Maher:
"Don't be so tolerant that you tolerate intolerance."
Whether you like Bill Maher or not, he makes a good point. As far as values, traditions, religious beliefs, race, color, gender, or sexual orientation, I believe that there is nothing more important than respecting and accepting different points of view and people who are different from yourself. Even if you don't see things as they do, it's important to recognize their right to be themselves and their value as human beings.
At some point, though, you have to draw a line. The hardest part is knowing where to draw it. If a belief or practice is harming, endangering, or oppressing any person or group of people, I believe it is unacceptable. For that reason, I have no respect for bigots, racists, religious extremists or any other group whose creed violates human rights in any way. As an American who greatly values the First Amendment, I do believe that these people have the right to speak their beliefs without fear of violent consequence providing that they make no action against another person, but I believe that the greatest value of the freedom of speech is that, ideally, it works both ways. I consider it their right to speak and my right to speak against them. In a truly democratic and free society, the only safeguard against hatred and bigotry are the people who take it upon themselves to speak out for Freedom, Peace, and Equality. Only by this effort on behalf of compassionate thought, can we hope for a future in which equality is both real and pure.
"Don't be so tolerant that you tolerate intolerance."
Whether you like Bill Maher or not, he makes a good point. As far as values, traditions, religious beliefs, race, color, gender, or sexual orientation, I believe that there is nothing more important than respecting and accepting different points of view and people who are different from yourself. Even if you don't see things as they do, it's important to recognize their right to be themselves and their value as human beings.
At some point, though, you have to draw a line. The hardest part is knowing where to draw it. If a belief or practice is harming, endangering, or oppressing any person or group of people, I believe it is unacceptable. For that reason, I have no respect for bigots, racists, religious extremists or any other group whose creed violates human rights in any way. As an American who greatly values the First Amendment, I do believe that these people have the right to speak their beliefs without fear of violent consequence providing that they make no action against another person, but I believe that the greatest value of the freedom of speech is that, ideally, it works both ways. I consider it their right to speak and my right to speak against them. In a truly democratic and free society, the only safeguard against hatred and bigotry are the people who take it upon themselves to speak out for Freedom, Peace, and Equality. Only by this effort on behalf of compassionate thought, can we hope for a future in which equality is both real and pure.
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