Tolerance can be taught, and we will have many teaching opportunities very soon.

You don't teach tolerance to those who work with you already. You teach it to those who don't. People don't learn tolerance at the business end of a baseball bat or an exercise in verbal fisticuffs. Intolerance is the child of fear and ignorance. Tolerance and acceptance come from learning to see the similarities in our human condition and how to practice empathy. Alienation and hatred are its antithesis.

I don't claim to be a great philosopher or anything like that but I have been around the world a bit. I've seen a lot of ugly of the up front and in your face kind and I've seen alot of good in people. Been on the receiving end of both. Yet I know this much--people are capable of making large and meaningful changes in themselves and their societies. When we were privileged to have the great humanitarian teachers like Gandhi and MLK among us and to still walk the earth with the likes of Mandela and the Dalai Lama, it would behoove us all not to miss the lessons they have taught us and to pass them on.

These are my thoughts and observations on what I have been observing on this board this week. Instead of emulating the the practices of the intolerant, let us look for teaching moments.

over intolerance is a weak argument IMO. I agree people can be taught if they hold any willingness.

with Dr. King and took spit, water hoses, bricks, and verbal insults without retaliating. I couldn't understand it as a child but as I grew up I realized that his non violent peaceful marches did more and got more accomplished than my thoughts of retaliation!

So I agree, teaching moments in life are important. I don't like Warren at all but he speaks to many at his church weekly and if he can learn something as we go along perhaps he will change his teachings. Even if he doesn't, his prayer can't be allowed to consume. He can't change Obama's voting record and stance on issues affecting gays.