Tolerance means tolerating intolerance!

[shugah]

from a LTTE in a local paper:

If you don't practice equal acceptance of all people with different ideas from you own, even if you regard their beliefs to be evil, where is your tolerance? If you don't, no matter if you are for or against gays, Jews, or the handicapped, etc. ... in failing to try to empathize that those you oppose or those that oppose you, you are effectively a bigot. Maybe not in the same fashion, but a bigot just like the guy that lights the cross or the man that yells "Kill Whitey" representing their equal but opposite extremes.

True tolerance will not be met until a swastika hangs side by side with the gay flag at Howell High and I can learn to respect the PETA activists' right to weep while I eat my rare porterhouse.
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/News.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=79712&Section=Letters&OnlineSection=Letters&SectionPubDate=Thursday,%20January%2013,%202005&RefDate=1/13/2005

so i guess to be tolerant means to tolerate intolerance? :shrug:

the background story is that the high school diversity club hung a rainbow flag to promote tolerance and acceptance of all, gay people included, but also people of differing ethnicities, religions, etc. howell is not particularly diverse, but i personally admire the kids in the club for the gesture. overall, the community has supported them in hanging the flag. i believe the school board agreed to let the flag stay in the school - but my son is checking today to see if it is still there (not flanked by a swastika, i hope!)

and the parallel story - a local auction house displayed a KKK robe in their storefront for an upcoming auction. that did not go over well, and the city council will be passing a diversity resolution in response (not sure what a diversity resolution is, or what it will achieve, but at least they have the sense to know that prominently displaying klan paraphernalia is probably not great PR).

anyway! i feel like i am living in a schizophrenic town at the moment! the LTTEs have been flying fast and furious over both of these stories. mostly, the letters give me hope. the town is very republican, but the general consensus seems to be that the flag is fine, and the display of the robe is not (whether the robe should be auctioned or not is a more heated debate - it will be, in any event). but some of the letters, like the one quoted above leave me shaking my head and wondering what the hell do people think - tho it appears that some simply don't!

[soleft]

1. Moderation in all things, including moderation

[Ian David]

2. Ranbow flags, swastikas, the KKK and Howell High

It sounds like this town has its share of progressive folks struggling against the usual gaggle of barbarians.

Hang in there, Howell!

From DAILY PRESS & ARGUS:

Lesson: Tolerance and diversity
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/News.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=79712&Section=Letters&OnlineSection=Letters&SectionPubDate=Thursday,%20January%2013,%202005&RefDate=1/13/2005

The Diversity Club of Howell High may have chosen the rainbow flag as their
symbol, but that does not negate the fact that the flag is the symbol of the
gay nation. It was, is and always will be. Take also into consideration that
the Diversity Club came about after the Howell Gay_Straight Coalition was not
allowed to meet in the schools. Hmmm? I wonder, new name, same club?
<snip>
-------

Related stories:

Daily Press and Argus Page 1 12/29/2004
Rainbow flag causes a fuss at Howell High
Daily Press & Argus
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=77253

Klan apparel causes stir on Howell street
Daily PRESS & ARGUS
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=78408

Daily Press and Argus General 1/9/2005
Interest grows in KKK robe up for auction
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=78937

Daily Press and Argus Page 1 1/12/2005
Council to adopt diversity resolution
Daily Press & Argus
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=79616

Daily Press and Argus Page 1 1/12/2005
KKK robe shrouds city in shame
DAILY PRESS & ARGUS
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=79615

Daily Press and Argus Editorial 1/12/2005
Nothing wrong with auction of Klan robe
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=79602

Daily Press and Argus Letters 1/2/2005
Club ought to pick different symbol
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=77677

Daily Press and Argus Letters 1/2/2005
Kudos to students for hanging flag
Kudos to students for hanging flag
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=77679

Daily Press and Argus Letters 1/2/2005
Schools should celebrate diversity
Schools should celebrate diversity
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=77680

Daily Press and Argus Letters 1/3/2005
Diversity Club deserves applause
Diversity Club deserves applause
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=77940

Daily Press and Argus Letters 1/4/2005
'Diversity' has to fit their agenda
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?pageType=Story&StoryID=78261



More:
http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?PageType=Other&Page=..%2FCommunity%2FNewsResult.asp&cboPaper=1&cboMonthStart=11&cboDayStart=13&cboYearStart=2004&cboMonthEnd=0&cboDayEnd=13&cboYearEnd=2005&cboSection=&txtKeyword=Diversity&rdoSearch=0&cboResultsPer=10&btnSubmit=Search

http://www.hometownlife.com/Howell/NewsSearch.asp?PageType=Other&Page=..%2FCommunity%2FNewsResult.asp&cboPaper=1&cboMonthStart=11&cboDayStart=13&cboYearStart=2004&cboMonthEnd=0&cboDayEnd=13&cboYearEnd=2005&cboSection=&txtKeyword=KKK&rdoSearch=0&cboResultsPer=10&btnSubmit=Search

[shugah]

6. it really is interesting

watching these stories. if i had been asked what the community reaction to would be to a diversity club at howell HS hanging a rainbow flag in the school before this actually happened, i would have predicted that it would not be allowed, that the majority of the community reaction would be overwhelmingly similar to the opinion expressed in the letter i quoted- but, i have been happily surprised that is not the case at all!

[unpossibles]

3. this seems to be another of the newer talking points

several of the wingers on my local music boards have been shouting this one for a few months - I should have known it was a wider-spread meme.

My answer has been this: to ignore hate is not the same as tolerance. The same rights they have to display a hateful symbol gives someone else the right to disagree with them.

As a historical example, most would agree it was a good thing to stop Hitler. Does that mean we were intolerant of his genocide? or that the police are wrong in being intolerant of someone's crimes?

The "logic" behind this whole "intolerant of intolerance" meme is flawed and can be drawn to outrageous conclusions. The same people making this kind of statement are being intolerant of your intolerance to their intolerance... ad nauseum.

Being tolerant of someone's religion or race or sexual orientation is an attempt to who that we are all human and to celebrate differences. Being intolerant of those same things is damaging to society, much like the crimes mentioned above. Turning a blind eye on crime is also considered a crime.

[Kinkistyle]

4. Freedom means being free to Enslave!

Hey, its fun to be contradictory! :crazy:

[Siyahamba]

5. The diversity flag article was very encouraging

I just moved to Brighton in August and have been depressed about the bigotry in Livingston County, then I was in Meijer and saw the rainbow flag on the front page of the Argus and had to pick it up. I was quite happy.

[shugah]

7. hi neighbor!

:hi: welcome to DU, and to livingston county!

the flag story is very encouraging! but, still a long way to go! there is, unfortunately, still a lot of narrow mindedness and republicanism going on around here!