There is much talk about tolerance these days. It is one of the most revered values in modern democratic societies, for some it is almost sacred but what it is exactly?
Well, it looks like it just depends who is using the word.
For people who belong to majorities of different kinds it is a respect for other people and their values.” I don’t badger you and you shouldn’t badger me” kind of thing.
Minorities however seem to brand anyone who doesn’t agree with them “intolerant” and “narrow minded”. Where is room for any dialog here?
Is tolerance one way street only?
I see it rather as intolerance in the name of tolerance, a way to force ones will upon another thus attacking their freedom of opinion and disrespectfully trample upon what is valuable to them.
Prime example of this practice is creation of gay marriage. In most democratic countries gays and lesbians can freely enjoy their lifestyle without being persecuted by law.
They can live as common law partners with the same privileges as married people, yet they want to change definition of marriage which to so many people is always reserved for man and woman only.
For them changing the definition of marriage is equal to destroying it along with its meaning and value, for many it is even sacrilege that deeply offends their conscience.
I don’t think it is acceptable in democratic society to allow the freedom of one group to take away freedom of another; it will bring grim consequences in the future eventually destroying privileges we cherish so much today.
It will lead to inevitable chaos. The only way out is to clearly define such a powerful terms as tolerance now.
We have widely accepted the fact that majority cannot force its will on minority but it also should work the other way around.
What we will do with this and other similar issues will determine the future of everyone of us.
