Bigotry vs Tolerance

Definitions:

Bigotry - stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own. 

Tolerance - a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions, beliefs, and practices that differ from one's own.

What to do ?    What to do ?   What to do ?

Pearls Before Swine comic strip.  Maybe somebody can find it.  Wasn't long ago.

Bald man talking to Rat--"...And that's what I think about immigration."

Rat shoots back--"OMG. You are a total moron."

Bald man appears unconvinced.

Later, Rat says to Goat--"I need a new persuasion technique."

Therein is summarized the level of political discourse today.

Actually, you have described the DemocRatic level of political discourse today.

Those definitions are inaccurate.

Bigotry and tolerance, as the terms are used today, refer to attitudes toward groups of people--races, nationalities, faiths. Tolerance is when one considers other people, regardless of membership in such groups, as having rights equal to one's own and treating them all with equal respect and dignity--and defending their rights as human beings. Bigotry is failing to do that.

Both DonDiego and Pastis (whose work I love) make the same false equivalence argument--that reacting strongly to and criticizing intolerance is in and of itself a form of intolerance. In other words, if you call someone out for a racist or bigoted act or statement, you are being intolerant. By that logic, we shouldn't be critical of some MAGA-hat-wearing goon screaming "KILL THEM MESSKINS!" at a Trump hate rally, because he's just exercising free speech.

If I object to a law or a social practice that discriminates against, say, Muslims, am I being "intolerant" for not tolerating the existence of that law or practice? If I point out that Black people are incarcerated at much higher rates than Whites, am I being "intolerant" of our justice system?

A form of this specious argument is when someone objects to what they call "political correctness" when what they're actually referring to is common decency. You don't use language or express attitudes that might offend someone for the same reason that you don't practice your trumpet on Sunday morning whether or not you know for sure that your neighbor is trying to sleep.

DonDiego can solve the bigotry/intolerance "conundrum" by identifying and trying to eliminate any bigotry or bias in his speech, writing, and actions that may inadvertently manifest itself. He is possessed of sufficient eloquence that he can think of alternative ways to express himself that are less likely to offend.

He can also, if he chooses, decline to offer social and political support to groups that openly practice bigotry and discrimination and gather political power by doing so.

Bullshit. Bigotry has been the primary talking point of Republicans for decades. Their core constituency is people who get their panties wet when Trump and others demonize immigrants, Muslims, Hispanics, etc. etc. And Stalker's "level of political discourse" is to use Trump-style capitalization errors when referring to the party he doesn't like (oh so CLEVER, Stalker!)--and to call everyone who disagrees with him a liar.

Liberals have been advocating tolerance for quite some time now, but we've learned that tolerance isn't all that attractive of a concept for Clem Cornpone and Tucky Buckford. They'd rather shoot a black person than have their kids go to school with him. The idea that "all men are created equal" hasn't gained all that much traction in "'Murrica."

  Kevin's response is a classic example of; -- "talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish" - Eurpidies 

Kevin Lewis writes: "Those definitions are inaccurate."

Kevin Lewis has an issue with wordreference.com, not poor old DonDiego.

Kevin Lewis writes: "DonDiego can solve the bigotry/intolerance 'conundrum' by identifying and trying to eliminate any bigotry or bias in his speech, writing, and actions that may inadvertently manifest itself. He is possessed of sufficient eloquence that he can think of alternative ways to express himself that are less likely to offend."

DonDiego sees no conundrum.  Poor old DonDiego is just a fallible old man making his way through life as pleasantly as he can.

Perhaps Kevin Lewis can assist poor old DonDiego by citing examples of poor old DonDiego's bigotry/intolerance, at least in his "writings" on LVA:

__ Maybe like when poor old DonDiego has resorted to calling someone an unpleasant name within this forum, f'rinstance.  [DonDiego has noted Kevin Lewis behaving so, numerous times.]

__ Maybe like when poor old DonDiego has expressed unpleasant opinions of immigrants, Muslims, Hispanics, 'etc.', f'rinstance.

  -  DonDiego welcomes immigrants to the United States who have followed the legal paths open to them to enter the United States and even become citizens if they choose.

  -  DonDiego lacks a belief in God.  But he does not object to those who do believe.

He has little experience with folks who practice the religion of Islam.  He does recognize that a segment of the Muslim population of the world bears ill-will towards those with whom they disgree, . . . and have demonstrated no reluctance in employing violence/terrorism against them; DonDiego does not have positive feelings for these "Islamic terrorists".

  -  DonDiego has lots of experience with "Hispanics".  He lived in El Paso, TX and, later, Las Cruces, NM for much of his career; poor old DonDiego was a member of the minority.  He is happy to report no instances of unpleasant behaviors between the Hispanic majority and himself.   [And he would only call his friends "beaners" if they called him a "gringo" FIRST, . . . at least most of the time.]

     (Oh, and DonDiego loved taking money from the Juarez Race and Sportsbook on Avenida Benito Juarez, in Juarez.  He made quite a haul on Super Bowl XXXIV; the sportsbook offered lots of not-well-thought-through proposition bets, and DonDiego hit on all of them, as well as the Winner, and the Under and parlays. And it was exciting, . . . if Kevin Tyson had made one more yard into the endzone on the last play of the game, poor old DonDiego would've lost his butt.)

DonDiego thanks Kevin Lewis for his assitance in advance.  

Touche'.

I'm certain that Kevin will enjoy this and consider it a victory, but I've largly left this site because of his endless hatfulness.

I don't wear a hat, and therefore exhibit no hatfulness at all.