We interrupt your regularly scheduled Jenner Circus to bring you a message on tolerance.
Not long ago I met a dear friend for lunch. In that conversation the topic of my political beliefs came up. He leveled the accusation at me that, of others with opposing beliefs, I am “intolerant.”
I love this man. He is Mrs. Cummings’ and my good friend, a successful businessman, and a highly driven individual who has earned his success. In addition, with his and his wife’s marriage ministry he has improved the relationships of over 300 couples and counting. Without him, while there may still be a Mrs. Cummings, she and I would not be as happy together.
His political beliefs, however, are largely up his ass.
It’s not just that he has opinions different than mine. Let me explain.
While it’s not guaranteed, your odds of getting good at nearly anything increase the longer you focus on it. Like many Clashmateys, we are attuned to current events. Doing so leads to acquiring a degree of knowledge about politics, foreign policy, economics, history, civics, science, and religion. So we conservatives read news sites and blogs – both of our own political leanings and our adversaries, listen to podcasts, read both the classics and contemporary literature, attend Tea Party and other meetings, and so on.
In other words, we are highly informed citizens. We are open to being wrong – (e.g. I have long trusted Republicans to do the right thing but have learned most walk around D.C. with politically correct, crony capitalistic rods where their spines used to be), but history often proves us right. And if you truly believe us in error, in order to make your case you must bring to the table more than just your emotions and accusations.
Which brings us back to being called intolerant, defined as “not tolerating or respecting beliefs, opinions, usages, manners, etc., different from one’s own, as in political or religious matters…”
My friend continues to make the classic Leftist assumption that, because conservatives have informed opinions and they believe fervently in them, not agreeing is being intolerant. This, of course, is absurd. We should also consider the manifestation of what is termed “intolerance.” Not accepting someone’s premise by saying, “Who said black lives don’t matter?” or “What about 30,000+ scientists who don’t accept man-made global warming as fact?” means we will disagree when we hear something we don’t think is right. It doesn’t mean we’ll harm or kill you if you land on the other side of an argument. If only there were a religious and political belief system on this planet that could serve as an example of the real definition of intolerance…
If by “intolerant” the Left means we refuse to buy their multiple and unending string of falsehoods, my answer to that is, “You damn right.”
— I am intolerant of the idea that abortion is called choice and not murder.
— I am intolerant of the idea that the rich don’t pay their “fair share” when the top 40% of all income earners pay 84.3% of all federal income taxes.
— I am intolerant of tolerance of what’s happening to our Jewish and Christian brothers and sisters in Middle East and is slowly creeping into the US.
— I am intolerant of the idea, pushed by Pope Francis in his upcoming encyclical, that the greater danger to our society is man-made global warming and not Islamo-fascism.
— I am intolerant of the fact that virtually every able-bodied American in Washington D.C. is spending our beloved America into oblivion.
— I am intolerant of the idea that we should have open borders, and that anyone and everyone who wishes to come is welcome, no strings attached.
If you disagree with me, say so and let’s talk. But don’t strap your emotions on your sleeve and think I’m going to buckle because you don’t have your facts, and your feelings might get hurt. We have a country to save, and we don’t have much time.
Image: https://nachalooman.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/condescending-ex-christians-theyre-holier-than-thou/