There are some that have a sad knee-jerk reaction to certain views...it is getting quite old and I would like to remind my friends who engage in such behavior to review a term...
- Tolerance
If one has a different viewpoint, perhaps the debate would be a bit more civil if we could discuss some things productively, and stop indulging in angry name-calling. This is a call for civility.
Some examples of painful intolerance:
- If you have respect for all life, you are anti-woman
- If you are for traditional marriage, you are a homophobe
- If you are for legal immigration, you are a racist xenophobe
- If you are for integrity in the voting process, you are a racist
- If you wave a flag, you are a potential terrorist
- If you love America, you are a potential terrorist
- If you disagree with Obama, you are a racist
- If you disagree with Obama and you are black, you are an Uncle Tom
- If you disagree with Obama and are in the government, you are an "obstructionist"
- If you are a Christian, you are a fundamentalist indoctrinator
- If you want to combat radical Islam, you are an Islamophobe
- If you are a white man, you are "the man" and do not deserve equality
- If you are a white woman, you are cool - unless you are conservative
- If you are anyone, you are cool - unless you are conservative
- If you are against ObamaCare, you are anti-poverty
- If you are for accountability in government spending, you are anti-poverty
- If you believe in using fossil fuels while exploring green energy alternatives, you are anti-environment
- If you believe in limited government, you are anti-poverty
Let's go over that word, tolerance...
- a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
- a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.
- interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.
Conversely,
- Intolerance:
- lack of toleration; unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect contrary opinions or beliefs, persons of different races or backgrounds, etc.
*****
We can all benefit from communicating without hatred and anger. Let's debate. Civilly, without the accusations, and honestly, let's attempt to use unbiased sources, let's recognize that we are all in this together and we should respect on another.
*****
Love one another and help others to rise to the higher levels, simply by pouring out love. Love is infectious and the greatest healing energy. -Â Sai Baba
"Be the change you want to see in the world." Â -Gandhi
"Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it." -Martin Luther King Jr.
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Comments: 266
"We should insist that if the immigrant who comes here does in good faith become an American and assimilates himself to us he shall be treated on an exact equality with every one else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed or birth-place or origin.
But this is predicated upon the man's becoming in very fact an American and nothing but an American. If he tries to keep segregated with men of his own origin and separated from the rest of America, then he isn't doing his part as an American. There can be no divided allegiance here. . . We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language, for we intend to see that the crucible turns our people out as Americans, of American nationality, and not as dwellers in a polyglot boarding-house; and we have room for but one soul loyalty, and that is loyalty to the American people." - Theodore Roosevelt
One of my (few) favourite Roosevelt quotes. That must have been one Hell of a Speech.
Thanks for the reminder, Dan!
Hello, "Big Mama." Tell me about yourself.
I'm also very pleased to meet you. The pleasure is mine.
"This idea is especially popular with postmodernists — that breed of radical skeptics whose ideas command unwarranted respect in the university today. Their rallying cry, “There is no truth,” is often followed by an appeal for tolerance.
The tolerant person allegedly occupies neutral ground, a place of complete impartiality where each individual is permitted to decide for him or herself. No judgments allowed. No “forcing” personal views. That all views are equally valid is one of the most entrenched assumptions of a society committed to relativism; but it’s a myth!
...after all...why should one be intolerant of Murder...or the hostile "transformation" of a Country?
The Truth-denying, TOLERANT Swedes, for example; complete and utter fools and idiots (yes, I said that), may I add, do this. The result?
You can Murder 77 Human Beings...and receive no more than 21 years for your Crime. After all...forced Penitence is "intolerant."....
What have you clarified?
That "respect" and "tolerance" are not one-in-the-same!!!!"
One is earned...the other, demanded.
Well...that certainly changes things, wouldn't you say?
They've earned that respect by being precisely who they are...the Parents.
Very well, then...I wouldn't want to have to turn you over my knee...
GO!
Opinate, I'll wager that you are a Hell of a Father. Your Children are incredibly fortunate, that. I applaud you!
...communist goal #21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures.
...and the schools...
...communist goals #17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks.
#18. Gain control of all student newspapers.
Give me four years to teach the children and the seed I have sown will never be uprooted.
-- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
Give us the child for 8 years and it will be a Bolshevik forever.
-- Vladimir Lenin
Destroy the family, you destroy the country.
-- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
The goal of socialism is communism.
-- Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
Democracy is indispensable to socialism.
-- Vladimir Lenin
Renee, "..Tolerance has simply lost it's meaning, I liken it to "respect", respect for one's autonomy."
That's OK Renee. We know how much God loves them and desires that they know Him. They're well worth a fishing trip. :) We just need to offer something they are hungry for. Make them really hungry God. And then give us things to share. Ha ha.
Better be careful you two. You don't want all of us following you around filling your page with . . . truths.
Indeed I've seen it, Opinate; and in the real World, also. It makes me wretch...
Well-said!
But, the Lord already has!
"It is not the future that is in doubt, but the past."
Leftists are experts at re-Writing History...he promptly had a few of those who disagreed with him Murdered, their Photographs removed from the Archives...
What are they really doing? They are being intolerant of the absolutes of Christianity, because the absolutes of Christianity oppose a philosophy that says, "Everything can be done in accord with one's own opinion." It is not difficult to see that this popular philosophy is an anti-biblical way of thinking--so dangerous, in fact, that it could one day lead to the outlawing of Christianity."
Yes, it's a real shame that Chistians' intolerant beliefs aren't afforded more tolerance. No doubt the world would be a much better place if they were.
Yeah, I'm not up on all that Rapture stuff, but as I understand it, Zombie Jesus returns to rule the Earth from Jerusalem and kills all the Jews and other non-Christians who refuse to bow to his rule and worship him as a god. I don't think that's pro-Israel and it's definitely not pro-Jewish, but I agree with you that it's definitely "pro insanity."
You thin I should forget about religion when responding to a comment about religion? Weird.
As a young child I was often the victim of bullying - I was very shy, timid, nervous - and small. Afraid of a lot. Hehehe - I just realized - sort of like a lot of abandoned kitties I find - anyway, the verbal attacks of others were devastating, and I had no one to talk to about it. And those oh! so wonderful public schools of the early sixties we are all so eager to return to did NOTHING to help me. I ended up being a poor student, always in the back, barely passing each year. To make a long story short - I was shocked years later, when I went to college - to find I was making straight A's and understanding the material taught. Graduated with top honors, and a member of the theology honor society, too. But this was after years of healing. At school, in life, and in my family, I was the victim of many other's intolerance. And I recognize the trademarks of bullying and intolerance. Most of the time, Renee - you strike me as tolerant - at least willing to take a look at other views. Even if you don't believe them. But if I happen to mention a republican I admire, or like - I'm told by conservatives here that he or she is not "really" one of them. It's a no win. Anyway, I've read nothing in what Wil B. has ever said that would reek of bullying.
Most of the time, Renee - you strike me as tolerant - at least willing to take a look at other views. Even if you don't believe them. But if I happen to mention a republican I admire, or like - I'm told by conservatives here that he or she is not "really" one of them. Who told you that, I will kick their butts ;-)
Nah, We were there once before and I think we both understand each others position already. Yeah, I was just complaining, and maybe I feel a touch better with that momentary vent. I'm going to be tolerant and let someone else have the pleasure of having a conversation with you. And yeah, we all love you Wil. ;)
"I would estimate that approximately 80 percent of the time that the word "tolerance" is used today - by teachers, the media, government officials, and perhaps even your own children - it is being used to mean the "new tolerance," which says that what every individual believes or says is equally right and equally valid. In other words, all values, beliefs, lifestyles, and truth claims are equal." -
Ahhh, the Leftist's favourite "Value"..."equality".....what rubbish.
Great point.
Opinate, your best guess. This is an alter of a current or previous "member."...who?
Or, of avoiding the Truth....for, that is the only way that Truth can be revealed.
Leftists hate that fact. Therefore, in their "wisdom," they believe they've devised a way to deny and refute it:
"Political Correctness."
They haven't. We must all endeavour to refuse to engage in this perversion.
And, some understand the Value and the great importance of generalisations. Leftists hate them, of course, because of that which generalisations reveal...
The Truth.
True, Clark.
Ummm...
Renee, I have a question:
If you were aware of an overwhelming statistic on the propensity of the anti-Religious (simply for an example) to commit robbery, in juxtaposition to the Faithful, what say you, then?
If the press doesn't give the Republicans air time and only chooses select "sound bites" of course you would think they offer nothing. Remember, Obama said "they could come along for the ride, but they'll have to sit in the back seat", and all the Democrats laughed.
And to Mark-John's point, yes, Mark-John, I would hide my stuff. I get it ;-)
Nate: "Get in the back seat", "flat-earthers", the "enemy", "get in their face"... ugh
Conservatives hated it when Bush did that.
The Left has managed to convince several generations, already, that generalisations are "politically-incorrect;" "unfair;" not "nice;" not "accurate." They've even convinced You, to a certain extent, that generalisations and "lumping" are precisely the same thing.
Rubbish. They are hardly "the same thing;" and are extremely important.
I know that you understand the importance of, and yes, even the decency of employing generalisations. And, I quite agree...Conservatives were livid with many of Bushs' actions...he was no Conservative; try as they might that Leftists label him so!
"I had to ignore the Principles of Capitalism in order to encourage Capitalism..." (idiot).
And, although I doubt that there was ever a big-government programme that you wouldn't approve of, Conservatives were certainly mis-represented by Bush. He'd managed to convince some Conservatives, some Libs, and most "republicans" with his moniker. However, any Conservative worth his days wage saw straight through that nonsense: "Compassionate Conservatism," we all knew, was codespeak for Leftism.
I don't agree with the Leftists propensity to construct an entire Industry upon 'Bush hatred'...it is quite an ironic joke, actually...considering that he was more like YOU than he was like Us.
And, Yes...I've just employed another useful generalisation ;)
It made my skin crawl...because, like YOU, I knew precisely what he was talking about, and what he meant.
I'll never forget several of the conversations I'd had with "republicans" at the time.
Me: "By God...did you hear it?"
Confused RINO: "Hear what?"
Me: "He is an imposter...he intends to Govern as a Leftist..."
Confused RINO: "What, you say? What in Hell are you talking about???!!!"
Me: "Compassionate Conservatism." He obviously does not understand that Conservatism, by it's very NATURE, IS compassionate. He's a Leftist. A Charlatan. Disguised. We're doomed. He'll ruin the Conservative Brand, and this Great Country, for decades to come. He is a Liar, and a Leftist."
I can assure you, Opinate...those "republicans" that I spoke with viewed me as though I had Three Heads...until now.
Like you, I knew what was to come...
I will keep working on my end trying to set a good example. If I succeed then some of those who tend to flame rather than discuss will discover that I will not respond in kind and that a thoughtful exchange can be rewarding. I certainly learn more that way.
Dumber Than Dumb
by Heather L Campbell
July 20, 2012
“In every group there is good and bad
Anyone can be happy and they can be sad.
No matter their race, color or creed...
They all have wants they all have needs”
“But Dad I just don't understand
You say Uncle Art is not much of a man
You say Aunt Ruth should stay at home
Her being in politics is just so wrong..”
“Dear Son one day you'll understand
Some people want to ruin this great land
They don't want to see much of reality
They have all the same lack of morality”
“Gee Dad when holidays roll around
We have family dinners with joyful sounds
But after that with coffee and dessert
People argue politics with words that hurt
When I grow up and become a man
I'll always be grateful for this great land
I'll listen to others who don't agree
This is what it means to me to be free.
How come you say all people are all the same
Except when it comes to the political game?
How come each side sees the other as dumb
For supporting their man who they chose to run.
I may be a child but it just doesn't seem right
How people argue way deep in the night..
Turning red in their faces and shaking their fists
Their madness seems a folly the point of – I missed
How can one side be right and the other wrong..
Seems to me both sing the same song...
"You are dumber than dumb, dumber than me
Because of one thing – that you disagree”
© Copyright 2012 Heather L Campbell
BIG APPLAUSE!
I have often been told by people who after reading a few (or sometimes just one) of my comments on gather know me better than I know myself that I am:
A right wing nut job (I'm a clasical liberal)
A young earth creatiionist (I'm a non theist)
A racist because the only reason that anyone would question Obama's loonytoons policies is because they can't stand to see a black man in The White house.
I want to return us to a medieval lifestyle (I have said we should be building nuclear power stations insteat of putting windmills everywhere and hoping the wind blows)
I am anti progress because I don't unquestioningly believe every innovation is to the greatest benefit of the greatest number ...
... and as the list grows longer the irrational bigotry of the left becomes more and more rabid.
1.
a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
2.
a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.
I don't ever see "fair, objective or permissive" attitudes from liberal/progressives on this site, on other forums, in the news media, or elsewhere for anything having to do with conservatives, Christians, Jews, TEA party or other grassroots groups, or Republicans. They do, however, show great tolerance of other faiths, bending over backwards, in fact, to not ever disrespect someone whose faith demands that employees get regular prayer breaks or demands of a university to have foot baths. They bend over backwards to not offend persons who have arrived in our country illegally.
Reagan wrote this about tolerance: The frustrating thing is that those who are attacking religion claim they are doing it in the name of tolerance. Question: Isn’t the real truth that they are intolerant of religion? ~ Ronald Reagan, August 23, 1984
The rest of his speech can be seen here: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978443811
I've asked before, is tolerance only meant for a few? http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977515893
A very wise man told me that the changes in how we react to others is caused by the fact that instead of learning to love and respect others, we are now taught to tolerate them. He may just have a point, for the word “tolerance” has become a buzzword.
There is quite a difference between respecting and tolerating. Tolerance means sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own. Respect means we have a high or special regard.
Respect and love go hand in hand. One definition of love is an unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another or a brotherly concern for another.
God, our Father and Creator of this wonderful world, gave us an excellent instruction manual, which we all tend to forget and neglect. Jesus told us that the most important things we can do are to love God and love our neighbor.
If we truly loved our neighbor, defined, of course as every man, woman and child, if we showed an unselfish, loyal and benevolent concern for everyone around us, there would be little need for affirmative action. The color of one’s skin, the size and shape of one’s body, the age of each individual would be unimportant, if we truly loved and respected each and every one.
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474977147501
When people like Mark-John and Mickey and others constantly call us names like "stupid" and "morons" and "asses" how is that showing any degree of tolerance? We are treated and called moronic idiots constantly, our ideas degraded, our comments ridiculed. Show me three examples when this did not occur recently. Obviously, neither side will admit anything "right" about the other side - the one time I did - when I complimented McCain for standing up for Abedin, I was told that the republicans who supported him over MB were morons. Anytime I have commended a republican who has done something, I'm told that he or she is really a "leftist" without real republican values. I guess if I kissed the ground Bachmann walked on that wouldn't be good enough (which I would never do).
I click on the links to articles provided by conservatives here that supposedly support their views - often, the articles are outdated - at best. Or biased. But I give it a read anyway.
Have any conservatives on Gather ever, ever, said a kind word about Barrack Obama? Ever? I don't think you are giving conservatives enough credit ;-)
Leftists spew nothing but pejoratives, Lies, obfuscations, slanders, and a disdain for Lovers of Liberty, and the Constitution.
Wisdom will be respected. Vileness will not.
I will only say nice things ;-)
"Lovers of Liberty are potential terrorists, according to a new study by DHS." - Renee
What a disgusting characterisation of Conservatives, and lovers of the Constitution and this Great Country. And, it is perpetrated BY LEFTISTS.
Having read "and studied" the Constitution, and understanding its meaning, are not necessarily one-in-the-same. If you Truly understood it, you would not be a Leftist. Obviously, you do not. Government was NOT established to confiscate, by point of a gun, and redistribute The Peoples private property. Government was NOT designed by the Founders to nanny an entire Nation, to provide for you only TWO glaring examples; you believe that it is, though you refuse to call it what it is, lest your Leftist beliefs be revealed.
No, jeanne, you do not understand the meaning and intent of the Constitution. That is not an opinion, it is Truth based upon impirical evidence. It is based upon what you SAY that you believe, and then compared to what THE CONSTITUTION ACTUALLY STATES. If you would have me to take you on your Word. I have endeavoured at least THAT for you. You're welcome.
If I am able to convey ONE SINGLE IDEA for you, which I have already learned is not possible because you are a Leftist, it would be this:
What I believe is not an opinion. Labeling it so is just another way that the Leftist has perverted the language, and the meaning of Words. What I employ is not a "stance." It is the support of the Principles designed by the Founders of this Great Country.
Lies will not work with me, jeanne. I never employ "opinions" on objective discussions. That I leave to the Leftist.
This is much akin to the statements that you apply to ME; you speak constantly of the words I use in response to the pejoratives that I suffer at the hands of the Leftist, here. You never mention the insults hurled at me by your pals, initially. And, as I have said; I have no intention of tolerating that sort of nonsense from Leftists.
Neither yours OR mine.
HIS.
THAT, jeanne, is a mystery...
"I don't ever see "fair, objective or permissive" attitudes from liberal/progressives on this site, on other forums, in the news media, or elsewhere for anything having to do with conservatives, Christians, Jews, TEA party or other grassroots groups, or Republicans."
Funny thing, because I, and I'll bet a lot of others could plug in "conservatives" where you have "liberal" and same inversions of the other names.
Why is this? It's the mechanism. You can see it in so many of the comments above: Conservative or liberal (you can apply this to other groups outside politics as well), take in information and events as they happen and FILTER them through their own knowledge base (and/or bias) and most often divide into extremes. Both sides think they're fighting the righteous fight on the side of good vs. evil. You think that of your own position, don't you? You're rational and have the justified position of righteousness based on reason and logic don't you? You think so, at least, and so does the person on the other side of the spectrum. Doesn't make either side right, just closed minded (not precluding myself from such influence, by the way), but at least I recognize it.
If I disagree with my cat, I'm accused of ignoring familial power structure.
If I disagree with myself, I am hearing voices.
If I disagree with those who agree with me, I'm told I need a hearing test.
If I disagree with those who disagree with me, I am accused of slapping them senseless because THEY F***ING DESERVED IT!
It seems that the examples of intolerance are highly biased toward what Renee feels are issues of intolerance against her or her viewpoint.
On the other side of that, might be: "If you're a liberal, you're an idiot (leftist, anarchist, destroyer of culture, embodiment of evil, etc.)" If you're an atheist you're an idiot (leftist, anarchist, destroyer of culture, embodiment of evil, etc.)"
Civility is a two way street, and presumed righteousness isn't an excuse for incivility.
It's not equal for sure! Now I certainly enjoy joining a mostly liberal occupied thread and stirring the pot...becoming the devils advocate (even if I don't hold such a position) just to get you guys riled up, but mostly I find progressives invading, ridiculing, attacking and demeaning conservative filled threads intentionally.
Way back in 2007 I used to post satirical items about the Bush Administration, the British government, the European Union, corporate mendacity and anything else that took my fancy. Liberals here loved me. Then when Obama came on the scene trying to boost his campaign by telling lies about my country and it's colonial past I started to satirise him.
Ah but that wasn't allowed, Obama was the messiah and in not accepting him as my saviour, overnight I became a racist, right wing nut job, an international capitalist, a young earth creationist, and an anti abortion medievalist. All these accusations were hurled at me without a shred of evidence, in fact a cursory glance at my back catalogue would show I am none of these things.
However, not only did I find I could not criticise Obama, when I did jokes about John McCain (Mr. Magoo) and Sarah Palin (the Predator) I was again subjected to hate attacks from the Obama camp. Making fun of these people made them look to loveable I was told, the only things it was acceptable to "liberals" to write about the republicans was hate filled diatribes about how evil they were.
When I make a remark about Sarah Palin being better looking than Michael Palin but not as funny, an angry reply told me that the lady is ugly and I must never think otherwise.
Well such things are always a matter of opinion but I thiink Ms. Palin is cute and the the way she speaks and especially that cheeky wink are reminiscent of my Texan cybersweetie Janet. her politics I do not care for but I never kicked a woman out of bed because of her politics.
If people want to dish it out they have to learn to take it.
I also found the Obama camp's attacks on Sarah Palin and Hillary Clinton sexist in the extreme. I never take kindly to being told what to think so the Obama camp, the progressives, found an opponent in me.
Renee's post is not biased, it is entirely in line with what many people who are not right wing nut jobs, young earth creationists, pro - lifers and everything else in the Liberal daemonology have been on bthe receiving end of.
...unless you are a conservative (?)
By the way, I'm no Obama fan. I think he's basically like a Bush third term in a lot of ways, but all the Obama's a non-citizen socialist Muslim terrorist crap is just so strained that it's distracting from what actually IS going on.
Well yes Robert...But you are a Progressive without the ability of objective thought. The filters you wear do not allow you to see reality of the progressive postings.......Unless of course you do...and are nothing more than a propagandist.
And are you sure I'm "progressive" or am I just far enough away from your viewpoint for you to sweep me into that category?
But the Democrats took God out of their platform. That makes the Democrats completely opposite from the conservative base. The Democrats might win this election, but just like OJ Simpson, (who didn't get convicted at first), they will pay for booing God.
Democrats didn't take God out of their platform, they just don't exploit God like the Republicans do. They're both administrators doing a job. It shouldn't matter what their religious belief is any more than the mechanic who fixes your fuel injection or rotates your tires.