Tag: intolerance

bookmark_border“Actually, they were! Hope this helps!”

Posted on by Marissa

Take a look at the below comment by “maddieelam”: 

“Actually, they were! Hope this helps!”

Excuse me?

Maddie appears to be stating that, in fact, Benny Johnson’s ancestors were evil. 

What an abhorrent, despicable, and brainless thing to write. 

How dare someone state that another person’s ancestors, in their entirety, were evil?

It is unclear exactly what Benny’s ancestors did wrong to merit such a harsh condemnation. It’s possible that an individual ancestor, or even several individual ancestors, did something sufficiently bad to merit the designation of evil. But for each and every one of Benny’s ancestors to have been evil is statistically extremely unlikely, to say the least, and is not something that Maddie could possibly have evidence to prove. Therefore, Maddie is falsely, and without justification, condemning people as evil.

To criticize, let alone condemn as evil, a person or group without justification is cruel and mean-spirited. And to state that a person’s ancestors, in their entirety, were evil, is an act of intolerance and bigotry.

Does Maddie think that the ancestors mentioned in the post are evil because they came from Europe? Because they had light skin? Because they lived in a different time period than she does, and therefore dressed differently, talked differently, and thought differently than her? Regardless of the exact reasoning, Maddie is cruelly condemning people as evil for the “crime” of being different from her. This is the epitome of intolerance and bigotry. 

Maddie’s intolerance and bigotry become even worse if one interprets Benny’s post as being about the ancestors of Americans in general, rather than just his own personal ancestors. If one interprets the post this way, then Maddie is stating not only that all of Benny’s ancestors were evil, but that all Americans of the past were evil. The bigotry and intolerance inherent in such a statement are appalling. 

“Actually, they were! Hope this helps!”

Um, no. Actually, they weren’t. And you are a bigot and a bully for making this racist comment. Hope this helps, Maddie!

bookmark_borderIntolerance is nothing to be proud of

Posted on by Marissa

Recently, I have been pondering the concept of intolerance. 

According to Dictionary.com, the word intolerant is defined as follows: “not tolerating or respecting beliefs, opinions, usages, manners, etc., different from one’s own, as in political or religious matters; bigoted.”

As this definition demonstrates, anyone in their right mind should consider intolerance to be a negative characteristic. And indeed, ever since I was in preschool, it has been a universally agreed-upon fact that being intolerant is a bad thing. It is treated as obvious and non-controversial that everyone should strive to be tolerant of others. 

However, in the past year, I have noticed a disturbing trend. It is becoming common for people to openly and shamelessly admit that they are intolerant. On several occasions, while arguing with various people on social media, I have pointed out that their views on vaccine mandates, statue destruction, or gun control are intolerant. Instead of denying that this is the case, they have responded by saying something to the effect of, “Yes, I am intolerant of you.”

As if being intolerant of someone different than you is perfectly fine. As if intolerance is a good thing. As if intolerance is something to be proud of. 

The tone of these individuals makes it clear that they are not acknowledging a flaw that they need to work on, but rather denying that being intolerant is even a flaw at all.

The past two years have been marked by the disturbing rise of an authoritarian and, yes, intolerant brand of progressive ideology. Proponents of this ideology have claimed to be inclusive and tolerant, while their words, actions, and policy positions demonstrate that they are in reality the exact opposite of this. But now, even more disturbingly, some proponents of this ideology have given up even the pretense of tolerance. 

Barring people from public life because they have declined a medical procedure. Smashing other cultures’ works of art to pieces with sledgehammers. Desecrating the graves of long-dead soldiers who were on the losing side of a war 150 years ago. Taunting and insulting supporters of a candidate who narrowly lost an election. Ridiculing those who disagree with you. Censoring dissenting views.

Actions like these epitomize intolerance, and this is why they are so morally repugnant.

At least some of the perpetrators of these actions now realize that they are behaving in an intolerant manner. But instead of changing their views, and/or trying to work on this character flaw, they deny that being intolerant is a bad thing at all. Proponents of authoritarian progressivism do not share even the most basic moral beliefs held by morally decent people. The decision to openly embrace intolerance demonstrates the complete and utter moral bankruptcy of this ideology.