The Hypocrisy of "Tolerance"

I’ve said for a long time, as have many others, that when liberals speak of tolerance, they have redefined the word.  Tolerance has shifted from a mere acceptance of another’s beliefs, opinions, etc. to a requirement to support certain beliefs. Of course, it usually means supporting those beliefs, causes, opinions held by the anti-Christian liberal arm of our nation. And it’s a decidedly one way street.

In other words, it’s not just enough for me to tolerate those who disagree with my Christian beliefs, according to today’s definitions.  It’s not just enough for me to say: “You have the right to disagree with me on abortion, gay marriage, 2^nd Amendment rights, etc.”  No, instead I must change my beliefs to not only allow you to disagree, but basically to admit I’m wrong and you’re right.  That’s “tolerance.”

Think I’m overstating things?  Think I’m being fanatical?  Case in point: the latest dustup over gay marriage stemming from the stand taken by Chik-fil-a.  Dan Cathy, the company president and son of the restaurant chain’s founder, was quoted as saying he believed in the biblical standard for marriage.  He said that his company was built on Christian principles and they were proud of that stand.

Immediately, the outcry of “intolerance” from the pro-gay liberals was deafening.  How dare this man have an opinion that differed from theirs.  How dare he not only have those opinions, but operate his business based on those opinions.  He’s not being “tolerant.”  In other words, “he doesn’t agree with us, and so he’s not tolerant.”

To further prove the point of this one sided re-definition of “tolerance”, consider the reaction in Chicago.  City Alderman Proco "Joe" Moreno has said he will block the attempt by Chik-fil-a to open a store in his north ward district because of this issue.  Not only is Mr. Cathy not allowed to have his own opinion if it contradicts the liberal wackos, but he won’t be allowed to conduct business either, unless he changes his beliefs.

Again, I’m not overstating this.  It’s not just that liberals want Mr. Cathy to somehow state that he would tolerate gay marriage in the sense that he would allow others to believe in that if they choose.  No, to truly be “tolerant” Mr. Cathy would have to go out of his way to promote the liberal’s agenda.  

According to an article in the Chicago Tribune:  Moreno, meanwhile, said it will take "more than words" to get him to reverse course. "They'd have to do a complete 180," the alderman said. "They'd have to work with LGBT groups in terms of hiring, and there would have to be a public apology from (Cathy)."

You can’t just tolerate, you must be “tolerant;” which means you must support the liberal agenda.  You can’t just allow others to have their own views, you must support the liberal’s views.  In this case, any failure to actively support gay marriage is anti-tolerance.

This is the height of hypocrisy.  If the roles were reversed, if those of us who are Christian operated by the same definition of tolerance, we would have to say something like this:  It’s not enough for you to simply say that Christians have a right to their own beliefs.  In order to be tolerant, you must pass out Bibles in your stores and work with a group of Christian leaders to be sure you’re hiring the right number of Christian workers.  Do you hear anyone making that argument?

This isn’t an isolated case.  Not too long ago we all heard the idiocy of the “anti-bullying” speaker who bullied and berated Christian students for refusing to stay and listen to him insult God and His Word.  The anti-bully bully; the intolerant “tolerance” promoters.  The theme is repeated over and over.  Hypocrisy at its best.

The saddest part is how many people bow to this “tolerance” hypocrisy.  It’s sad how many companies are confronted by this kind of ranting and pull back from their convictions in order to not appear “intolerant.”  I hope and pray that Dan Cathy and the folks at Chik-fil-a will stand firm.  I hope they will not bow to pressure, but will truly stand for genuine tolerance which says they have the right to believe what they want and run their company according to those beliefs, even if it doesn’t line up with the liberal agenda.

On the bright side, it's nice to see how many people are supporting the restaraunt, even launching a "Chik-fil-a Day" on August 1st.  Personally, I love Chik-fil-a because they have the best chicken sandwich around.  But I will go out of my way to visit their store as often as I’m able to support their stand, and to make a statement for genuine tolerance.  It’s time to end this one-sided redefinition of tolerance; and if I can get a some waffle fries at the same time…Bonus!