There is a huge emphasis on Tolerance these days. We are expected to be Reasonable and Accepting of the slow, insidious changes in society.
You know the old story about how to boil a frog, right? You place it in a pan of cool water on a stove, and then ever so slowly turn the fire up under the pan. Because the temperature change is so slow and subtle, the frog doesn't jump out ... and eventually will be boiled.
If we continue to allow the chipping away of our core, even one tiny grain of sand at a time, we will eventually lose ourselves.
Graumagus of Frizzen Sparks promotes a different concept, instead of bending down - we should instead Celebrate Intolerance :
in·tol·er·ance- n.:
1: impatience with annoyances
2: lack of an ability to endure
3: unwillingness to recognize and respect differences in opinions or beliefs
"Intolerant!" is invariably used as a derisive malediction against anyone who only holds an opinion that doesn't pass the litmus test of political correctness, but especially against those who dare declare their views out loud. Any individual expressing ideas that aren't in step with the groupthink of mindlessly validated multicultural flotsam that passes for socially acceptable opinion in today's culture is immediately branded with the scarlet "I".
This stigma has been carefully refined to imply that the marked one is damaged goods and therefore any ideas they have are dubious at best. Once classified as "Intolerant!" by the powers that be, a person is instantly guilty until proven innocent of racism, sexism, religious bigotry, and whatever other assassination of character that can be used to taint the worthiness of their ideas to the public eye.
The merits of the besmirched one's argument, idea, or opinion isn’t even considered. If it's not included in the lexicon of acceptable viewpoints, those who arrogantly deem themselves the gatekeepers of what constitutes "Correct" thought will go to any lengths to beat it down. No matter how detrimental to their own well being, a person is supposed to be "Tolerant" at all times or they pay the price.
It may take some effort on your part, but I want you to flush the pre-programmed reflexive response that enters your mind when the term "Intolerance" is mentioned. I want you to re-evaluate intolerance with a fresh perspective.
In short, intolerance is a good thing. In fact, intolerance is a healthy, necessary part of the human psyche.
There is more, much more -- and it deserves to be read. |
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