You know what I don't want to tolerate? Tolerance being counter-intuitive. It seems that in the name of tolerance, we're scared to oppose anything, because being intolerant seems to be the easiest way to become an American pariah. Well, I guess that means I'm doomed to a life of unpopularity.
Bunny trail: I think the "Coexist" bumper sticker using religious symbols is just plain ignorant. Take a world religions class people. Read a book. Then form an opinion.
Back on track. Every belief is not equally valid. Either Jesus is the Savior of the World or He isn't. Either it is OK to kill infidels in Allah's name or it isn't. Not every belief system has equal merit, nor should they be given equal air-time. And in special circumstances, giving ground in the name of tolerance is actually offensive.
I'm sure you've all, by now, heard plenty about the Mosque being constructed at Ground Zero (the site of 9/11). Rather than ranting about it here, I figured the most constructive use of my words would be to make a list of things as/more insensitive and offensive than having a Mosque at Ground Zero. These all could be argued from the standpoint of understanding and tolerance.
10. The Handgun Appreciation Club (with indoor shooting range) at Columbine High School
9. The Andrew Jackson's Colonization Museum at any Native American reservation
8. Lebron James singing the national anthem at the 2010 Cav's home opener.
7. Changing all of the tour guides' uniforms at the Holocaust Museum to resemble Nazi Officers.
6. "Bloody Sunday's", an Irish pub in the heart of London, England.
5. A Michigan recruiter at a booth during Ohio State's Club Fair
4. A US munitions factory in Hiroshima or Nagasaki, Japan
3. A national law mandating that every "Martin Luther King Jr Blvd" in the country be intersected by "James Earl Ray Road".
2. "Hutu Gravedigger Services" in Rwanda, advertising "No one has more experience."
1. A Jewish Synagogue next to the Kaaba in Mecca, with a likeness of Mohammad wearing a Yarmulke
Tolerance should never take priority over respect; or better yet, love. And not all perspectives are worth listening to. Why allow something unloving and disrespectful in the name of tolerance? I think our response to those building Park51 should be "You are welcomed to build, as soon as Israel is allowed to build a Synagogue at Mecca." That should delay the project a while...
