Forcing tolerance seems to be the call of the day. Which is a shame because tolerance should not even be an issue in this day and age. The word is a blight against every continent, country, race, religion, and person in this world. We all are guilty of propagating ideals that support usage of the label. We do so because we acknowledge intolerance before we do tolerance. Sounds confusing doesn't it.
Tolerance-what does it mean
My current favorite dictionary, Webster's New World Dictionary, says being tolerant of other people's views, belief, practices, etc. The root word, tolerate means to allow or respect. In essence isn't that what we all want to be allowed to do our own thing and be respected. With that in mind there should not be any problems, should there? Yet, there is. Why is that? Simply it boils down to we all want to be right all the time. Think about it and you know it is true. No one likes to be wrong. The worst is when there is no clear proof of right or wrong. This means we have to decide for ourselves. When we have to decide for ourselves there usually becomes a problem honoring the meaning of the word tolerance. Why? Most people can't tolerant being wrong when there is no definitive proof to say they are not right. As a matter of fact, many have a problem when there is proof. What does tolerance mean, having respect. If you want respect, you have to give respect.
Achieving equality
Chris Rock, the comedian, has a unique view on achieving equality. For the first time two black head coaches led teams to the Super Bowl. The issue of whether or not the National Football League is close to achieving equality in the coaching ranks is a top story. Rock indicated when anyone can say they don't like a black coach without being called a racist, then we have equality. The man makes a very deep observation on the matter of equality and racism. In order to have equality, we have to stop drawing lines in the sand. To achieve equality there can be no boundaries. There can be no closets. There can be no special considerations due to race, color, religion, gender or sexual preference. We cannot achieve this equality now because we still make those references that acknowledge boundaries.
Are we closer? I do not know that we are, if an event like the Super Bowl significance cannot be in a sports contest between the NFL's best two teams. In the end, each and every participant is a person. In addition, the equality references are not just limited to football and color.
Another closet opens
John Ameachi a former NBA basketball player wrote a book and came out of the closet as a gay man. This is all over the news media like white on rice. Every news interview with pro basketball players includes a question about their opinion on the situation. In reality who cares. The man is retired and lives across the pond in merry old England . It is absurd that this person is making headlines in America . Why? Simply because before John Ameachi announced he was gay there were not ten NBA fanatics that remembered, the guy ever played the game. To sell his book, he went public by proclaiming he is opening the closet door. The ideal Ameachi is attempting is sort of a conundrum. He is making a big deal in the book about being gay to challenge the attitude of making a big deal over someone being gay. The truth is, if he dealt with his gayness as an abstract subject instead of a focal point it would not be such a big deal at all. In fact, right now at the rate celebrities and athletes are announcing their sexual preferences it is in to be out. It gets notice and raises the recognition level. For John Ameachi it will sell another book.
A solution
Knowing humanity as I do, we are never going to find that middle of the road. We are always going to discriminate against something or someone it is our nature. So, I have a proposal based upon one of the aspects of addiction recovery. Most people achieve recovery from their addiction by substituting something else in its place. For example recovering alcoholics who smoke and drink coffee will increase those two habits. I think the same can be done to achieve tolerance and equality. In order to achieve tolerance and equality, we must become prejudiced. I mean this in a good way. By becoming prejudiced against people who discriminate and have intolerance we can than achieve true equality. All we are doing is applying a principle that has helped to turn the lives around of many people who suffer from substance abuse. Mark my words it will work because intolerance and prejudice are just another form of abuse only with people as the substance.
Working the reverse declaration press release
As I have just released my second book, Depression Caring Coping Loving Sharing Surviving Depression, I will reveal my sexual predilection. Unlike John Ameachi, I am straight and I am magnetically attracted to woman. You can call it another one of thoses white on rice situations. I like all kinds of them and I do not discriminate against color, race, or religion. Though I do discriminate by being staunchly gender specific, so gender bender's no matter how cute don't make the grade. In a sense this is a reverse of coming out. I guess that means I am staying in. I am quite comfortable with myself that way and proud of it. Despite this proclamation, I do not see that this news is going to cause headlines and help sell any more copies of my book. Now, that is an example of intolerance and lack of equality at work in a negative way.
