Once again, I am coming across more and more abuses of this word. People seem to believe that in order to be tolerant you have to accept what any person says or does. How many lines have to crossed before someone makes themselves unpopular by saying, "No", or "That is enough"?
Do we tolerate those who molest children? No. Does it make me a hypocrite to say "No" to someone who expects me to tolerate child molestation? No. It makes me fucking moral.
Does it make me a hypocrite to say that I will not tolerate those who hurt people I care about? Does it make me a hypocrite to stand up for the truth, why sacrificing "tolerance" to protect those who have been maltreated? No.
However, it seems to me that people are so willing to sacrifice morals and ethics in the name of the bastardized version of tolerance that they become spineless when it comes to doing the right thing. Many people didn't understand that my first essay was not about tolerance, but about the abuse of the word. "Well, you're not tolerant yourself", they tell me. No, I'm not going to be tolerant when I see someone I care about being accussed of something they have not done. I will not be tolerant of being judged without knowledge. I will not tolerate children getting hurt while others ignore what's happening. I will not tolerate those who refuse to stand up for the truth and instead hide in the shadows in order to prevent themselves from being braded a *gasp* hypocrite.
A person can be tolerant but still have a spine, and the balls to say something when there is an injustice. Too many pagans think they can get an easy way out by protesting air pollution, much like a Christian thinks he can get into heaven as long as he/she goes to church every Sunday. Protesting doesn't do shit except tie up traffic and piss off motorists. If you want to make a difference, get off your lily ass, dump the picket, and get your hands dirty. There are people in your country who need your help. You have no excuses; soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and mental health institutions are always in need of volunteer work. If you have time to wander around like an idiot with a sign on the side of the road, you have time to make someone's day by giving them a smile and something to eat, or by helping an elderly person get into their clothes. Yes, you'll get dirty, yes you won't get paid, but you'll sure as hell be making much more of a difference. So before you call me a hypocrite, I want to see the vomit stains on your jeans from helping the sick mental patient. I want to see the oil stains, from when you pulled over in your SUV to help someone with a broken down car. I want to see the shit stains from when you changed the diaper of a crack baby, I want to see the blood, sweat, and tears you have put into helping your fellow humans. Don't worry about the planet, she's been able to help herself fine over millions of years, a lot of your brothers and sisters can't.
When I see the tear stains from the rape victim on your shoulder, then, and ONLY THEN, can you call me a hypocrite.
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