"... tolerance, regardless of it's humble facade, assumes a position of superiority. If I tolerate you then you are the one who needs tolerating, not me...Perhaps G.K. Chesterson was right when he said, "Tolerance is the virtue of the man with no convictions." What self-respecting individual wants to be tolerated?..."
Came across this article,
Bound for Freedom, quite by accident. Though there are many things in it that I don't agree with, it certainly made me think. I have never thought about what the word "tolerance" means, and now that I do, I realise I'm not too sure. I thought it was a mix of patience and understanding, and yet I wonder if there is something to be said for the above point of view.
I think I would vastly prefer passionate disagreement, to tolerance. When a person disagrees with me, he treats me as an equal, he respects me as a person entitled to hold his own views. But someone who is merely tolerant of my opinions, as the quote puts it, assumes a position of superiority and righteousness, without actually having proved that he deserves it.
I don't know; I suppose there are many different aspects to tolerance.....but this one is also well worth considering.....
posted by Sylvia D'souza at 6:41 pm
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