One of my good friends recently told me, "Republicans just aren't tolerant." I forget my exact reply but I think it was something along the lines of "yea that's probably true" (I tend to avoid debate). At the time, I didn't thin it was true at all. In my mind I thought, us republicans are more tolerant than you democrats. We love people. But after thinking on it for quite some time, I realized she actual was right. Republicans aren't tolerant... but that's okay with me. I don't want to be tolerant!
I think tolerance too easily leads to complacency. If I were to become tolerant of one's beliefs I didn't agree with, I wouldn't be doing anything to change it. Let's start with war as an example. I am pro-war. Nations can't get by without war and I think it's right. Someone who is against war may say "Yes, I am against war. You should be tolerant of my beliefs though." My reply? WRONG! I shouldn't be tolerant of your beliefs. I shouldn't let you try and make it so there is no more war if I believe in war and it's necessity. I believe in soldiers fighting for our freedom. I believe in people dying so that YOU can say "let's not go to war." You know what would happen if we pulled all our brave troops out of war? Absolute chaos and destruction! Our nation would fall and we would slowly become a push-over, poor, hopeless place. We simply can't risk it. Now I'm not saying I'm pro killing innocent people. I know that's happening and I don't agree that it's necessary in all cases. I'm not pro having our soldiers (dads, moms, sons, daughters, real people) killed at war, but it's a reality of war. And In this war, people knew what they were getting into when signing up for the military. They volunteered to put their life on the line. Okay, another subject I refuse to be tolerant about? Abortion. I'm sorry, but I don't agree with abortion unless the mother is for sure going to lose her life if she has the child. That is very VERY rarely the case. I don't want to be tolerant of women having an abortion, either. I want to be the voice for those without a voice. I refuse to become tolerant just to make others feel goo. Not going to happen.
There's another problem with the label "not tolerant" that was put on republicans. Democrats aren't very tolerant either. Sure they parade tolerance throughout the street. Sure, they're tolerant for unbiblical, ungodly things, but what about when it comes to the Republicans? The Christians? There is no tolerance there. They don't want to hear our ideas. They don't want to compromise like they say. They want their way just as much as we want ours. I think their "tolerance" is a mask they put on to cover up their intolerance. If they can say they're tolerant because they accept sin, then why can't we say we're tolerant because we accept truth? It just seems hypocritical. Now, I realize I am making many generalizations here and when I do, please don't be offended. I realize this isn't ALL how all Republicans feel, and I'm sure there are many Democrats out there who aren't at all how I'm describing them. I'm just explaining what I've seen.
Last, I don't want to be tolerant because, contrary to popular belief, tolerance does not equal love. I won't tolerate the actions of a gay couple, but I promise you I'll love them to death (I have a good pair of gay friends). I won't tolerate the actions of a girl getting an abortion, but I will love her and treat her with respect. All these people making poor choices are more than welcome into my life. I'll love them, hang out with them, even become their good friend, I just won't tolerate their actions. Jesus loved without being tolerant. He hung out with the lepers and the drunkards, but he rebuked people (don't worry folks, I don't plan on doing that anytime soon. I'm an imperfect judge, He is perfect). He didn't tolerant sin. He did more than tolerate the sinner. He loved them. He cared for them. He did His part even when they didn't do theirs, but I don't, for even a second, believe he tolerated them. No way. There is a difference.
Those are just some random thoughts aiding me in procrastinating on my paper due soon. Hope it doesn't come across as hateful. Like I said, the person calling me not tolerant is my friend, my good friend. Her and I study together, eat together, work out together, and are able to have civil debates together :-).
