Tolerance

Definition of Tolerance (n)

Bing Dictionary

• tol·er·ance
• [ tóllərənss ]

1. acceptance of different views: the acceptance of the differing views of other people, e.g. in religious or political matters, and fairness toward the people who hold these different views
2. tolerating of somebody or something: the act of putting up with somebody or something irritating or otherwise unpleasant
3. ability to endure hardship: the ability to put up with harsh or difficult conditions

I’ve held back jumping on the Duck Dynasty hates Gays bandwagon… because it’s nothing new and I don’t really care.

Until now.

Let me state my position on this latest example of Liberal Tolerance.

Phil Robertson has every right to openly state what he believes.  A&E has every right as a private company to “Fire” Phil Robertson because of what he openly states as his beliefs.  You have every right to Support Phil, or Support A&E.  You can turn A&E off… you can say mean things about Phil.  You can burn Phil’s Duck Calls… On and on and on.

The only, only, only aspect of this I find remotely interesting is the idea of Tolerance.  This episode is simply another, in a long line, of incidents where Liberals fail to tolerate speech they disagree with.  Phil may very well be an A-Hole.  But where exactly is the tolerance?

Liberals find it very important to remind the rest of us that they are the most Tolerant people in the room… at all times.  But if you only tolerate those you agree with then where exactly IS the tolerance?

This is a terrific example of the Left’s War on Words.

It is all part of controlling speech.  Because if you control speech you control the argument.

But what is amazing is that we are conditioned with regularity to accept such control.

We see this in everyday life.  Several examples we have grown to except, erroneously, are the words;

Gratuity, Charity and Voluntary.

Definition of Gratuity (n)

Bing Dictionary

• gra·tu·i·ty
• [ grə t ətee ]

1. money given in appreciation: a small gift, usually of money, given to somebody such as a waiter as thanks for service given

Synonyms: tip · perquisite · perk · token · donation

If the definition of gratuity above is correct… then how can one be mandatory on parties of 6 or more, or have a minimum of 15% etc.?  Once it’s mandatory or has a requirement, it’s no longer a gratuity, it’s a fee.

Definition of Charity (n)

Bing Dictionary

• char·i·ty
• [ chárrətee ]

1. organization providing charity: an organization that collects money and other voluntary contributions of help for people in need
2. provision of help: the voluntary provision of money, materials, or help to people in need
3. material help: money, materials, or help voluntarily given to people in need

Synonyms: aid · contributions · gifts · donations · help · assistance · offerings · handouts

If something is taken from you and given to someone else it is not charity.  It is theft.

Definition of Voluntary (adj)

Bing Dictionary

• vol·un·tar·y
• [ vóllən tèrree ]

1. of free will: arising, acting, or resulting from somebody’s own choice or decision rather than because of external pressure or force
2. without pay: performing, working, or done without financial reward
3. using volunteers: composed of, functioning with or requiring volunteers

If something is voluntary it does not require Force by others.  In other words, you don’t voluntarily pay your taxes.  You pay your txes because you must.  If you don’t, you go to jail.  That’s Force.

Apparently “Tolerance” is going the way of “Voluntarily”, a word hardly heard and rarely understood.

It seems none of us ‘Public School Kids’ know what Free Will is.

I shouldn’t have to say this, but Words mean Things.  All of the above words have to do with your ability to say “No.”  So ask yourself, why would the Left want to change the meaning of, or remove, such words from our vocabulary?  Contrary to many people’s new definition of Tolerance, it does not mean finding only those things you agree with as protected speech.  In fact, it means exactly the opposite.

Buy a dictionary… use it… before all meaning is lost forever.

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The Unbearable Meaness of Meaning

I’ve found when I ask for definitions to be applied to words, and meaning applied to assertions, that I’m “mean”.  At least that is the accusation.  And, I think I’m okay with it.

Apparently none of us, or at least not the majority, want to be held accountable for anything… ever.  It seems we wish to live in a world where everything means whatever we want it to, when we want it to.  I guess life is easier when it revolves around us and how we feel about it, not necessarily what it is.

Fine.  I’ve been known to indulge in a little “checking out” from time to time.  I have also spun bad situations into goods one even though I know they were still bad, but this is an epidemic.

This self-centered approach to everything permeates our society and we are seeing the results.  We demonstrate our unwillingness to deal with reality by exhibiting this type of behaviour.  We also protect ourselves from judgement by being purposefully vague.

We simply do not want to think about what we think.  (Intellectual laziness is… well… lazy.  And easy.)

Instead we want to have others praise us for the “achievement” of having an opinion.

We expect others to be so impressed by this accomplishment that we demand they overlook any deficit of substance which might elevate the opinion to being worthy of consideration.

Without fail the speaker will attempt to stop a search for meaning with one of the following:

“Who are you to judge?” (Response: Who would you prefer?)  “That’s just my opinion.” (Response: Yes… it is just an opinion.)  “We’ll have to agree to disagree.” (Response: I think we should agree to agree to disagree, then agree then not. To Infinity… na, na, na.  This one is so childish is hurts.  You can recognize your difference in opinion, but agreeing to it is a completely different position.  “I think Ax murdering your family is bad.” – “Well I think we should just agree to disagree.” Hmmm…)

All I have ever asked is that each of us, as individuals, Make an Effort to understand why we think what we think.  This effort should be ongoing throughout our life.

This blog has never been about agreement, conversion or solving the worlds problems… it has been about meaning.  What are we, our leaders and those we elevate to positions of authority actually saying… if anything.

So… I’m mean. I’m very, very mean.  If that’s the definition, then I will be proudly mean in all things.

To me, an opinion should resemble a Fine Bourbon.  It is the difference between meaning and meanness.

A Fine Bourbon does not appear before us because we wish it so. It is born of education, consideration, reason, rational, trial and error, all repeatedly applied to the fine materials nature provides.  Without context it is harsh and burns the novice mouth, very mean indeed.  Appreciation comes with experience and knowledge.  With meaning, leading to understanding, it becomes a demonstration of conceptual brilliance.  (And, it makes everyone around you more tolerable.)

I Am, because I Say So.

If I Think about it… I might not exist at all.

There is a War on Meaning in the country and it starts with Names, which are simply tools for understanding.

If you have read anything I’ve written In the past you might already suspect I will not be found having lunch with the “No Labels” crowd.  In fact, I believe Labels are an extremely important part of conceptualization and our ability to communicate complex ideas to each other.  If I can tell you I drove to work in my CAR, without having to explain the complexities of the internal combustion engine, and you understand what I’m talking about we have both saved a lot of time… my time telling you how I got to work, and yours trying to figure out how to walk away.

The same concept is used when Identifying yourself to others, and more importantly when speaking of others being able to Identify Them..  The reason we do this is to save a million unnecessary words while communicating a thought or idea.

Makes sense right? With me so far?

In fact, Labels are so important that our ability to apply them in the process of comprehending complex concepts is the only behavior separating us from the rest of the Animal Kingdom.

It makes us special… right up until we go to government school.  Then only some of us survive being told there is nothing special about us vs. the Silvery Minnow, Spotted Owl, Red Algae, etc..

Let me share some examples of the Destruction of Meaning I’m talking about here;

I feel drugs should be legal but Capitalism is Evil! – I am a Libertarian, because I Say So.

I Hate those people because of what they are saying! – I am Open Minded, because I Say So.

I feel those Anti-Abortion people should be thrown in jail! – I am Tolerant, because I Say So.

I feel other people, not me, can’t be trusted to make the decisions I feel are right! – I am Smart, because I Say So.

I’m a Progressive Liberal, but calling me a Socialist is ridiculous! – I am Enlightened, because I Say So.

Communism and Socialism are Completely Different! – I am Educated, because I Say So.

I get my news from the Daily Show! – I am Informed, because I Say So.

News Outlets that don’t seem to agree with my point of view should be forced to say things I feel are true! – I support the First Amendment, because I Say So.

I feel some new restrictions on the Second Amendment, First Amendment and Fourth Amendment by the courts is a good idea!  – I am a Constitutional Conservative Republican, because I, John McCain, Say So.

I feel we should all have equal rights as individuals without government interference in our lives! – I am a Democrat, only because I Say So… and my friends are… and I vote for Democrats… because it’s cool… right?

We can call ourselves anything we want… but it doesn’t make it so.  We don’t get to change the meaning of the labels… even though there are many, many people who try.

The problem is poor thinking, and labels with the meaning destroyed, leads us to do stupid (non-reasoned, irrational) things.  But we prefer the Label we think makes us “look good” among our peers.  Our social network is so important to us that we will not do anything to risk losing it.  So we try to assign our own, “new”, definition to a Label which already means something.  This is the War I’m talking about. (If you haven’t read any Eric Hoffer, do yourself a favor.  Amazon is a few key strokes away.)

Pro-Choice Catholics come to mind.  Tolerant Leftists and Scientists who believe in Consensus follow closely behind…  I’m sure you can think of many more examples I’m leaving out.

All I’m suggesting is we spend a considerable chunk of time thinking about what we think.  Then, we should be honest enough to admit where we fit in regardless of how it might offend our parents and friends.  This will also allow us to identify those who commit the crime of Murdering Meaning.  It’s a little scary at first, because Serial Meaning Murderers are everywhere.

One of my favorite philosophers once stated “A = A”.  Her point was; The Truth is The Truth.  This might surprise a number of Public School educators out there, but “2+2” cannot equal “5” no matter how hard the student tries, or wants, to make it so.  What we believe to be the truth can be, and often is, wrong.  The Universe simply doesn’t care about one’s self-esteem.  And, I feel that’s Mean.  Mean Universe! Mean!

Because,

I believe that I’m a Brilliant and worthy of praise by all…

I also believe I’m Sober most of the time… a Nice guy… Rich… Young… Good-Looking…