Tolerance

So I wrote this a month or so ago, just never posted. So with some apprehension....here it is. Nothing great or too philosophical, just my musings on America.

G.K. Chesterton wrote the following about the use of the word relativity in his day; “It is as if there were suddenly a universal mania for talking about hats,without the faintest memory that they had ever had anything to dowith heads; or as if everybody were extravagantly excited about cats,while nobody knew whether they were the same as crocodiles.”

When I read this, the comical notion struck me that this statement is quite parallel to our society’s obsession with the word “tolerance”. America, as a whole, seems to have gotten so wrapped up in the mania of tolerance that we have forgotten that in order for this utopian state of coexistence to be realized there must be differing opinions. Tolerance according to Miriam-Webster’s definition is “sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own; the act of allowing something.” Notice there is no mention of acceptance. Tolerance does not mean universal acceptance of every belief. This would result in belief in ALL which is as useless as belief in nothing. However, it seems that belief in nothing is exactly what some who idealize “tolerance” desire for America. Theoretically, a national belief in nothing would unite us, but without ANY direction.

Politically speaking, America is essentially divided into two camps and naturally the extreme views of tolerance have split along the same lines. Now, do note that I do not consider myself a Democrat or a Republican. I might be persuaded to call myself a Libertarian if they didn’t come off as such buffoons. Politicians for the most part disgust me! I simply can’t bring myself to vote for them. I feel like I need to shower at the mere thought of even voting against them. You could even say I have little to no tolerance for them. And tolerance (not politicians) is the topic at hand, so back to it…….…….
Depending on which side of the politically line one stands, the face of tolerance is either idolized or abhorred. If you praise a Democrat with the label “tolerant”, he may be willing to die happy and join Buddha in Nirvana. If you curse a Republican calling him “tolerant’, he may just shoot you to prove he is absolutely not. Both these views are obviously overly extreme, but tell me that this example does not epitomize the polarity with which the concept of tolerance is viewed?

Tolerance is a necessary part of democracy. If you want a political system that is tolerance-free go live in a communist country where nobody can be anything but what the State dictates. Yes, my good Republican friends I just compared your ideal Nation-State (where you dictate all the rules) to Communism…think about it. Yeah, you may have God “leading” your politics, but would your subjects be happy or free? Dems, you aren’t off the hook either. If you want a political system that is all about tolerance go find me a country where everyone does absolutely what they want and tell me how long that people group stands united as a nation. “Welcome to the Disunified States of Anarchy!”

What I’m getting at here is that there needs to be some understanding on both sides of what it means to be tolerant. The principles of tolerance are core to unity and democracy. While at the same time absolutes are tantamount to sound government.

I don’t pretend to have anything figured out. And I can’t say I have made up my mind on this, food for thought. This is something I need to think more about.

Go consider where you’ve got it mixed up.
******** Or don’t….It’s (still) a free country. ; )

Strolling Thru The Park

Got a good shot of my little cuties running around hand in hand last
weekend. They were collecting sticks and leaves as pretend food for a
picnic. Yummy!