Column 71 for February 18, 2001

I’ve heard it said that intolerance breeds intolerance. It seems to me sometimes that we live in a very intolerant community. Although most businesses and organizations have to post signs saying they don’t discriminate based on age, sex, national origin, religion, etc., etc., we are still a community of "if you don’t think and act as I do, you’re not to be reckoned with." I’m trying to use polite expressions here…

Think of some of the major issues that divide us. Race. Religion. Abortion. Gun control. The state flag. Taxes. Politics in general. Which "side" are you on? These are important issues, to be sure, but let us try to put a little rationality into our positions!

The intolerance that I’m talking about is NOT that you shouldn’t take sides, but rather that many of us refuse to acknowledge that someone else might have an equally valid belief, yet diametrically opposed to our own. Sort of a "my way or the highway" attitude. It’s great to have strong beliefs, but to put on the blinders and refuse to comfortably live together seems a little ridiculous to me. On most, if not all issues, there should be some common ground with which we can get along. Years ago America was called "the great melting pot" but it seems to be no more.

Let’s look at an example. Religion. I’ve seen some of my Roman Catholic friends here in Carrollton not only put down, but called heathens by other supposed Christians. Claiming the Catholics worship Mary and other "idols", drink real wine on Sundays (oh horrors…), and practice other "unusual" rites, some of these local people think of Catholics as non-Christians. Geeze! Were they never allowed to study religious history? Don’t they realize that the original followers of Jesus formed that church? That it took nearly 1600 years before there was such a thing as a "protestant?" This is only the tip of the iceberg. Think how these same people view others in our community of Jewish, Islamic, and other faiths.

The church I grew up in (non-Catholic but Christian, by the way) had an interesting little booklet titled "Our Neighbor’s Faith" or something like that. Forty years ago or so, and I still remember learning to appreciate and respect other’s beliefs. It was enlightening, and the leaders of my church were not afraid for us youngsters to become aware of different sincere beliefs and practices in our community. They were comfortable enough in their own beliefs not to feel threatened, and felt we would be the same. What has happened?

Forty years (and more) ago I was taught tolerance, many times without knowing it. For that I’m so appreciative of my parents and other elders in my school, community, and church. I’m not perfect by any means though, and still have to struggle with many of the current issues.

As a Georgia public school teacher, I’m now charged with incorporating "character education" into my classroom. Part of this responsibility is "teaching tolerance." No easy task when the children come to me with such prejudice and intolerance. They have neither time nor respect for others that are by birth different, or have different beliefs. Where did they learn this? I have a pretty good idea. The recent arguments about the state flag brought this into a very clear focus. I don’t think even Henry Kissinger could get these kids to sit down at the same table, but I’m going to keep trying. Wish me luck.

Peace. tomiswho@mindspring.com