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Quote of the Day: Tolerance and Religion
“The frustrating thing is that those who are attacking religion claim they are doing it in the name of tolerance, freedom, and openmindedness. Question: Isn’t the real truth that they are intolerant of religion? They refuse to tolerate its importance in our lives.”
– Ronald Reagan
We saw that illustrated by Robert “Beto” O’Rourke this last Thursday when he threatened to strip churches of tax-exempt status if they did not perform same-sex “marriages,” and the Democrats cheered. This bigoted, intolerant position was (of course) framed as a means of fighting bigotry and intolerance.
Tolerance used to mean you ignored or put up with behavior with which you disagreed. You tolerated the loud music coming from your neighbor’s house. Today, progressives have redefined tolerance as approval and affirmation of behavior with which you disagree, with nothing less than active and participative affirmation acceptable. To be tolerant of your neighbor’s over-loud music you have to thank them for it or even use your house as a place for them to put their speakers for their music.
And who decides what behavior is worthy of tolerating? The progressives, of course, If you disagree with anything that means you are an intolerant bigot unworthy of rights and legal protections.
Published in Religion & Philosophy
These are scary times for everything you described – these are Alinsky tactics 100% – change the language – control the narrative – good-bye freedom. We can’t stand for that – and Beto can take a flying leap off a short pier….
Can he actually do that, or isn’t it something changed by congress? Isn’t freedom of speech valid anymore? How on earth can a city making a law fining you for something you say? Apparently in my old age I am getting slow on comprehension.
Good post. Conservatives do need to be careful of this argument, which is not actually conservative. It is libertarian. I think that is is perfectly appropriate to refuse to tolerate certain things. Pedophilia is an example on which there is broad consensus.
I listened to an exchange on this topic last night on Fox. The democrat rep argued this is not about individual beliefs (which they apparently don’t want to regulate yet) but about rights while the pastor argued scripture. He never made the point that there is no right to be married in a church. Civil marriage and liturgical marriage are not the same. In the past if you were divorced you couldn’t be married in the Catholic Church. If you are two non Catholics you can’t be married in the church. And to think that it’s ok for individuals to have beliefs but not the institutions through which these beliefs are expressed showed an appalling lack of understanding of religion.
Answered correctly:
When there are many ways to solve a problem, no individual should demand only one solution. Cakes can be purchased anywhere. Anyone can take a photograph. Only when an individual has a life debilitating problem, such as at a hospital emergency room, should the government get involved.
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And what if I am an intolerant bigot? What business is it of theirs?
It isn’t, except it gives them licence to treat you as unworthy of rights and legal protections. Kind of like the star chamber proceedings the House is putting Trump through.
Almost ten years ago, I had this very conversation with a friend of mine. Its wasn’t so much that gay people wanted to be tolerated, but that they weren’t going to stop demanding “rights” until everyone everywhere was pleased and excited and cheered for their gayness. That their status was to be openly affirmed and celebrated.
I also said that I wondered if it was because they knew, deep down, that they weren’t okay.
@cowgirl what did your friend say to this?
Surprised and pleased to see you can still say “marriage” on Ricochet. For now.
I don’t believe the mob-hysteria aspect of “social justice” as illustrated by hate-crazed Beto, comes from actual LGBTs. I think it comes from people like Beto trying to leverage some degree of actual grievance-usually other people’s- into power for themselves. And what greater power than to force people to knowingly celebrate lies as truth? Once you make them do that they are your broken and harmless servants.
Truth is, all the important meaning and purpose of marriage is obliterated when you make it genderless. The mob hysteria aspect is not a drive for genderlessness, it’s a drive for obliteration.
My friend and I were discussing this because my daughter had recently been divorced from her husband of ten years (after three children) because he wanted to live his “real” life as a gay man. It was a very difficult time for our family. My friend and I agree on this topic.
Now…my former son-in-law is in a marriage with another man who also divorced his wife (he has two children). These men live in the same city as their ex-wives, and share parenting very seriously. I do give my ex-SIL credit for being an attentive and involved father–he didn’t have that as a child. So, that is one good thing.
I’ve calmed down from my initial anger over what I saw as his life experiment (marrying my daughter). I love our grandchildren. My daughter is an intelligent and capable woman with a great job, and their children do have the attention and love of their two parents. But I’d love for MY “little girl” to experience the love that I’ve had with her father for 45 years. I pray for that regularly.