General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forumswhy don't conservatives understand what tolerance means?
I believe the single biggest issue we have between the left and the right in America is the idea of "tolerance" and what it means....a conservative views tolerance has something being forced on them....but on the other hand the same conservatives have no problem with "forcing" their so-called religious and moral views on others....and thus here is the problem....and why I believe it almost becomes a mental health issue....first of all tolerance doesn't mean being forced to do an act or forced into a belief......tolerance means allowing others to do so....our founding fathers wrote the constitution all based on tolerance of each other...if you want to worship a frog God sitting in a cave...well you know....I must tolerate your belief...I don't have to believe in it or even accept it but I have NO right to deny your belief....I firmly believe conservatives can not understand this idea....simply put..their world is black and white...what they BELIEVE is always right and the rest of us must conform....and this is a big contributor to what hinders conservatives with the idea of what tolerance....means...
treestar
(82,383 posts)they think their way is right and ought to be forced on others via the law, while the liberal says live and let live. It is so twisted but what the call "intolerance" of them is merely disagreement with them.
They are the ones who want to exclude other people who think differently. They don't want to do business with gay people, won't bake the cake for the wedding. The liberal could be a devout Buddhist but still is willing to do business with and bake cakes for people who are of other religions and gay people, etc. They do not exclude people who do something different.
Arkansas Granny
(31,519 posts)salin
(48,955 posts)Qutzupalotl
(14,317 posts)smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)Authoritarians simply can't get their minds around the concept of "Live and Let Live". Everyone has to think, feel and do as they do or it somehow threatens their narrow world view. I just see it as extreme fear and insecurity.
The2ndWheel
(7,947 posts)They can if they want, it's a free country, but they can't take your belief away. Even if they could writes laws on it, it still wouldn't be denying it.
Every side thinks they're right and makes every other side conform though. You think conservatives can't understand this particular idea of tolerance. Just flat out can't. That's a pretty black and white world there. Do they have to conform to your definition of tolerance? Is tolerance inherently right? If conservatives can't understand tolerance, are you able to tolerate that?
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)So one can objectively say that they lack tolerance.
The2ndWheel
(7,947 posts)to allow the existence, presence, practice, or act of without prohibition or hindrance
The first definition of tolerate on dictionary.com. There are many things that people of all types don't tolerate. Some of those things conflict with each other. Usually, people will tolerate what they agree with, and not really tolerate things they don't agree with. Diversity can be messy.
KittyWampus
(55,894 posts)and the Fundie preachers in their churches.
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)They are unwilling to separate the two.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)This is really what is at the core of so much of the hostility the right has for the left (and anyone else who doesn't think and feel EXACTLY the way they do.) They simply cannot tolerate that another viewpoint even exists, let alone that people are free to live as they choose. It's coming from a place of deep insecurity, I think.