Is Tolerance A Virtue?

Father Dominique Pire
Let us not speak of tolerance. This negative word implies grudging concessions by smug consciences. Rather, let us speak of mutual understanding and mutual respect. I have engaged in making comments on some blogs recently. The activity has possibly taken me further into liberal territory than I have ever been before. I am still naïve enough to be shocked by reasonable people losing the ability to think rationally when discussing their perspective of political and religious issues. Perhaps I just don't understand why they can't understand my point of view. Lol

One of the most grating habits liberals engage in is constantly harping about their "tolerance and compassion," while denying those perceived virtues in conservatives. So, that's what I want to address in this blog.

First of all, as you can see in Father Pire's quote above, tolerance is not a virtue and this is why many conservatives lack that trait. Conservatives, who base their lives on the Bible, or at least on solid moral values gained from their Christian heritage in this nation, believe in the integrity of the foundation they live on and, are therefore, not willing to sacrifice their moral standards to please people who lack those standards. And, contrary to what liberals would have you believe, standing up for what you believe is a virtue! Exercising that virtue is how our country gained its freedom from Great Britain to begin with.     
As Father Pire says, tolerance is a negative word. Tolerance doesn't embrace the beliefs or even the intrinsic value of other human beings, it merely--yes, even grudgingly--allows room for the beliefs of others when it has not the power to forbid or extinguish them. And, this allowance is only given out of a superior attitude which Father Pire calls a "smug conscience." Yes, the liberal "knows" his ideas are right, but he will allow you to hold to your ideas (in the short term) as long as they in no way hinder, block or alter his ultimate agenda, which is to deny your freedoms altogether.

If. however, you hold to any ideas that hinder, block or alter the progressive agenda's implementation, you must be stopped at all costs (by votes or by physical or emotional means). Wait a minute, you may say. What happened to tolerance? You must have misunderstood. Progressives always define tolerance as behavior which furthers their agenda and stops yours! Rules and the definitions of words are changed arbitrarily to confuse, mislead, and deceive non-progressives and aid leftist causes. The left will only use new rules and new definitions as long as they can gain advantage with them. If the advantage fails, those rules and words are abandoned. In other words, the "tolerant" are never ultimately tolerant. 

First, you will be called intolerant and any other names deemed appropriate or effective to stop you from hindering a liberal's progress toward his goals. He will not openly and honestly discuss his goals because he would be hard pressed to defend them in a rational way since they are irrational. So, he will block the opposition mercilessly. Histrionics, labeling and name calling will be used consistently to draw attention away from the real issues--again, because they are indefensible.

They will bypass legislative bodies and use liberal judges in the courts to force their will on others. (This reveals what they will do if gain absolute control.) They will attempt to be the loudest voice. It doesn't matter if the message being pushed is true or the methods being used are moral. The message and the agenda are supreme. Pragmatism rules!

Next, let's talk about compassion. Does this use of tolerance sound compassionate? No, because it's not. Compassion is another red herring for liberals. Their compassion primarily resides in their "smug consciences" alongside their bogus tolerance.

They revel in talking about the needs of the "poor" and the "disadvantaged" and how those needs can be met by the government. They call that compassion! They are thrilled to spend someone else's money on ineffective programs and think that means they ooze with compassion. They sidestep personal sacrifice or actual involvement with the needy? By their definition, that has nothing to do with compassion.

How little wealthy liberals give to charitable causes has been consistently documented. The social and financial damage their programs have inflicted on our country is incalculable.

Facts are facts and it's time to break free of the liberal political correctness that silences the truth as it blares the propaganda of "liberal tolerance and compassion" and "conservative intolerance and lack of compassion" throughout our society.

It would help if we could discuss the dire issues facing our country today with "mutual understanding and mutual respect." But that can only happen when the censure ceases and both sides are open and honest.

Edmund Burke (1729-1797) British political writer
There is a limit at which forbearance ceases to be a virtue.

Your thoughts are welcome-- even if you disagree. We should use our freedom of speech while we still have it.