Originally Posted by
soberlicious 
I agree, but I am finding lately I am less tolerant of intolerance though. I am definitely not at peace with some of the beliefs of others that I was formerly able to simply dismiss as not my own. Case in point, there is a biker bar in town that I pass frequently and there is a bike parked out front with "white america" emblazoned across the windshield. This is increasingly getting under my skin. I would like to poke my finger in this tough guy's face and ask him wtf is wrong with him. What kind of an idiot rides around with this stupid phrase which is obviously meant to incite? Oh well...let it go...take a different way home...out of sight out of mind. None of that sits well with me anymore. If I run the guy's bike over with my jeep, then I realize that I am no different than he.
Not sure how to deal with intolerance except to live compassionately. It's a huge problem in our society.
Hi again fluffy-one,
Yeah...what you said. We have, in our recent past, an extraordinary example of the dilemma being discussed with Nazi-Germany. Live and let live? Really? At what point do we, as outsiders, step in? To stay within the example, pastor Martin Niemoller's famous quote springs to mind:
"First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out--
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me--and there was no one left to speak for me."
and yet, I am not an activist. It's not fear or even uncertainty that stays my hand - though there is certainly at least some uncertainty and possibly even some fear... it's just an underlying sense that someone else needs the opportunity to deal with this more than I do at this stage of my life.
Sort of like when I was in AA early in recovery and cleaning ashtrays after the meetings. Three months in my sponsor suggested that I stop cleaning ashtrays and let someone newer than me have a chance.
Anyway, no answers just a kindred spirit scratching his head in good company.