Re: pessimist

Brendan McKennedy (suburbantourist@hotmail.com)
Sat, 07 Feb 1998 22:08:47 -0800 (PST)

>I don't think the answer to perceived intolerance is more intolerance, 
and I
>don't think an intelligent response to different opinions about sexual
>morality is name-calling (homophobism).  Homophobia does exist.  I 
don't
>think everything that is called homophobia is homophobia, however, and 
I sure
>don't feel anyone has the responsibility to change their beliefs to 
suit
>others--homosexuals or fundamentalists...
>
>Jim  
>

Or Nazis?  Or Klan members...?
I disagree.  I think the answer to intolerance IS intolerance.  I refuse 
to tolerate hate.  But I don't believe in INGORANT intolerance.  Once 
I'm pretty sure I understand someone's philosophy, if I find it 
unacceptable and hateful and dangerous, I refuse to tolerate it.  I 
don't think that's ignorance; I think it's ethics.

The problem, of course, is how to reconcile a world where evey set of 
ethics is different from the other.  I don't have the answer to that, 
and I don't believe anyone else does either.  But I never suggest 
bending your well-thought--or well-ACQUIRED, rather--morals in the name 
of tolerance.

Brendan

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