Comedian Bill
Maher has a quote that intrigues me: Don't get so tolerant that
you tolerate intolerance.
In
checking the quote on line, it appears that Mr. Maher has used it several times
in several different contexts. In January,
2016, he was having a conversation with liberal radio host Thom Hartmann,
comparing Italy’s decision to cover nude statutes during a visit by the Iranian
president with intolerance for other people’s views in Arab/Islamic countries.[1]
Perhaps
the issue is not so much Islam as it is the theocracy[2]
that governs Islamic countries. I wonder
if judging Islam by the creed of ISIS would be like judging Christianity by the
Spanish Inquisition.
Which
brings us to the issue of tolerating religious beliefs
If a
person wishes to believe something I don’t agree with, it should be OK with me,
as long as that person or group doesn’t attempt to force their beliefs on me or
harm innocents by violating accepted norms of conduct. I’m thinking here of the two little girls
from Minnesota who were subjected to genital mutilation by a “doctor” in
Michigan recently. We cannot tolerate
this type of religious freedom where it is harmful to children and against the
norms of society.
Freedom of
religion does not legalize polygamy, or child sex abuse, for instance.
I can’t
tolerate the hateful speech of neo-Nazis, for instance, when they preach
against Jews and blacks and homosexuals.
I can respect someone wearing a hijab or praying while kneeling toward
Mecca several times a day, but I cannot tolerate the destruction of ancient
statues carved into a mountainside because they are “idols”.
No one said
this stuff would be easy. And no one can
claim to be 100% consistent in their approach to tolerance.
But, we should
all be in favor of respect and love. We
should all be against hate and bigotry.
And do our
best. Every. Single. Day.
[2] A form of
government in which God or a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler,
the God's or deity's laws being interpreted by the ecclesiastical
authorities. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/theocracy
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