why is it that intolerance is looked down upon? i don't understand why it has such a negative connotation.
in my eyes, all intolerance is knowing what you believe. i'll admit that i get annoyed when people make up their mind before they have all the facts. but in situations where i have the facts, and know my beliefs, my morals, and my stance on a controversial situation, and am put down for being intolerant or close minded.
if being close-minded and intolerant means that i've looked at the facts, looked at the options, heard several people's experiences and made my decision based upon those facts. then i suppose i am. but i don't think that's right.
but if that is intolerance. then i think it can be good. as long as the people who believe other than you arent rejected.
it is possible to love someone and reject what they believe.
to use a hot, controversial issue today. my aunt is a lesbian. i personally do not believe that such a lifestyle is a moral one, or that gay marriage should be allowed. but i don't reject her because of it. i love her to death, and i cannot imagine life without her. granted if she came to me and said that she came to the conclusion that what she was doing was wrong..i wouldn't talk her out of it. but i'm not going to try and talk her back into it either. she knows my beliefs. i know hers. we get along just dandy.
to those who believe that standing on your soap box and "preaching" at people gets anywhere. it doesnt. (example. fred phelps.) all it does is hurt. love unconditionally as jesus would. and he'll do whatever is necessary.
Good question. There are many decisions in the world that I feel are wrong, but I can be friends with people who make those decisions and still have my own morals and beliefs and feelings about it.
Intolerance is not knowing what you believe, it is finding differences between you and another individual and instead of respecting those differences, you force (even if silently, in your mind) your own morals upon their lives. Not everyone lives with the same views as you, and it's unfair that you would expect people to conform with them. In my opinion it is very judgemental to do so, and I openly judge those intolerant of others as being close-minded. There is an antithesis of personal freedom expressed (unless it's personal freedom of a certain view) when intolerant politicians are in office, and therefore it's seen in an extremely negative light.
On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur: L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry