Tolerance...or a lack thereof
Hello everyone…I know it seems kinda strange for me to write any time within a month of the last post that I made, but from time to time, things happen that get me to thinking about things and, as usually happens for me, the more I think about it, the more charged up about the topic I get. This will be the result of that charge. Actually, depending on how this is received, I have at least two other posts that can follow this one.
Let me preface this by saying that I know for a fact that some people aren’t going to like what I’m about to write here. That can be for several reasons, none of which I will get into at this point, but I want to say, “I understand”. I understand if you get upset. I understand if you get frustrated. And I really understand if you don’t get the point.
I’ve gone through quite a bit of transformation over the last couple years. Many of you know everything that happened, some of you know some of what happened, and a few of you know little to none of what happened. Honestly, those of you that know little to nothing aren’t missing anything that can’t be summed up in one word: LIFE. Life happened and caused me to analyze my life, my thoughts and my direction. What I got out of it got me to where I am today. I don’t expect you to agree or understand…you don’t even have to accept it. It just IS…and that’s all there is to it.
As long-term readers of my blog will know, I’m not one to spout off my thoughts about politics, religion or any of the other highly opinionated and heated topics that there are. Sure, I glance off fringe issues from time to time, but that’s because they are important to me at that time. I would never attempt to make anyone think the way I think. I would never tell you that you are wrong for thinking the way you think. To me, that is the ultimate insult. It means that the forcer has no confidence in your ability to look at things on your own and to make your own opinions. I will not do this.
I hate politics as a general rule. It is my opinion that a vast majority of politicians are not looking out for their constituents or their constituent’s best interest. They are looking out for El Numero Uno – Themselves. To me, I think that’s a complete waste of time, energy and, quite frankly, air and food. Why should I vote for someone who is going to go to the Capitol and do exactly as he sees fit (whether he really agrees with the way he votes, or he is paid to vote the way others want him or her to)?
Does this mean that I don’t have opinions? Heavens no! I have opinions on just about every topic that you can come up with…it’s just that to me, opinions are like elbows…everyone has at least one. Does it matter what my opinion is? In the global sense, no. I know that no matter what I think, there is going to be someone else with a differing opinion and, with the multitudes of people that are alive, the aggregate opinion is, in all realities, null.
What do I think about immigration laws, abortion, gays and lesbians or a multitude of other topics? I think everyone should be allowed to do whatever it is that they think is right as, ultimately, they are the ones that will have to pay for their choice. There are limitations to this, of course, because the ultimate of this would be chaos…but, aside from some general rules…this is what I think.
I think the same thing about religion. Everyone should be free to do whatever it is that they feel is necessary to do because, ultimately, they have to answer for what they have, or have not done. I was brought up as a Southern Baptist but right now, I have no clue what I am. I agree with many different philosophies…that’s all I can really say for sure. Does this make me a bad person? Depending on who you ask, of course, the answer will vary. I’ve looked at what I was taught and have drawn my own conclusions and opinions as a result. To me, this makes more sense than blindly swallowing what one has been fed.
I want to close with this thought: whether you are an Islamic Fundamentalist, or a Ultra-Conservative Right Winger…There is no reason to be tolerant of the intolerant…to do so only fuels their fire.
posted by LaTech at 5:32 PM
1 Comments:
What's not to like? You make no real difinitive conclusions other than 1.Politicians are a waste of perfectly good biological resources, and 2. That people should do what they feel in their heart is right (with certain limitations of course). Both conclusions are very straight forward and accurate. I agree that the political system, in it's current perverted form, is a complete disaster and a mockery of the principles that it was founded on. I could rail on for weeks about the faults of our current system, but it would of course do no good. I do try to enact change by writing my legislators (not that it will do any good) and trying to think of alternative solutions and engaging in public discourse. In general though I expect little to happen. Unfortunately in this world, it is easier to kill someone than to have an intelligent discussion and work towards a solution and/or compromise (which is why we have war). Ultimately it is those in charge that make the decisions and it is the rest of us who pay the price. What make these privlidged few think that they deserve such privlidge, I'll never know (which is also why I'll never be one of them).Intolerance is not always a bad thing (and tolerance is not always good either)... I for one am intolerant of those who find it justifiable to take another's life under all but the most dire of circumstances. I also find all of this talk of immigration odd. Immigration is legal and a good thing. It is the illegal immigration that needs to be stopped. I think the law should be applied fairly as it is written. The law does not effect mexican people disproportionately, it effects all people who enter this country illegally regardless of ethnicity. Likewise the people here illegally now should be penalized accordingly under the law (no general amnesty). I say that to be fair. If congressional lobbying laws effect rich older white americans disproportionately, do you then decide that a certain amount of violation of those laws must be acceptable and given amnesty? I for one am more than willing to share my thoughts (and please keep in mind what there worth: $0.02), and I generally welcome other opinions as well (concurring or dissenting). I feel the more that we as Americans begin to use our voice and take part in the process, the sooner that the process will become ours again. I grew up in a family that never discussed politics, and rarely discussed preceptions about new ideas, hot topics, and scientific discovery. I now find myself to be discussing those subjects every day with my family, passionately in many cases. "If you don't stand for something, then you'll fall for anything"
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