Joy Unconfined

but never actually experienced it, truly, until yesterday.

Or, well, maybe I have, but never noticed before.

It’s interesting how those who speak SO much of ‘tolerance’ and being ‘open-minded’ can display the most intolerant and closed-minded attitudes.

I’m speaking specifically of those who refer to people of conservative leaning as ‘wrong’ and other such opinions in group conversation. These people think NOTHING of insulting my intelligence or casting a slur on my moral fiber, simpy because of my political and social opinions. Were I to do the same thing, it would be pointed out, and considered just another evil of the right. But a liberal does it and no one says a thing. It’s interesting, given that I, at least, am honest about my opinions. I may not agree with them, but I will defend their right to not agree with me to the death. I can accept that they feel that way, and I don’t think less of them for it.

They, on the other hand DO think less of me. They won’t even pay lip service to the fact that diferring opinions are good. I’m just wrong. If I said the same thing to them, it would be called intolerance. When they do it, it’s simply enlightenment. Because, you see, I am wrong and they must bring me to their way of thinking. If one does not think their way, if one has a different philosophy of life, one is simply incorrect and must be changed.

I’m so sick of the double standard. Sure, they’ll say, “Well, I shouldn’t go into that right now.” But it’s never an apology. It’s just an arrogant acquiescence to the fact that they don’t really want to argue. It’s not because of a kind of respect for people who don’t agree with them, it’s more of a posture that says, “I’m enlightened and you are not.”

It’s insulting. Am I not a nice person? These are people I genuinely like, and even respect. I have respect for their opinions and the life choices and experiences that have brought them to their way of thinking. But I don’t have to agree. Why are MY choices and experiences not deserving of the same respect?

Whenever I think maybe there’s something to this idea of caring about my fellow man regardless of their contribution, something like this occurs and makes me realize that maybe that fellow man doesn’t deserve my caring unless he (or she) earns it.

You start with a clean slate with me. I’ll accept you as an equal, rational human. Behave as such and we’re golden. Disrespect me in this way, and you lose face. Lose too much and you’ll be written off as not worth my time.

I don’t need influences in my life that seek to undermine my self-value.

This entry was posted on Saturday, February 19th, 2005 at 9:18 pm and is filed under miscellanea. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.