Practice Spreading Tolerance
Obama’s presidential win is a sign of progress, but it also could lead to conflict
The election of Barack Obama as president led many people to celebrate what they saw as a sign of progress on race relations in America. But it also caused the servers of two major white supremacist groups to crash because of excess traffic. "We don't live in a post-racial society, despite the very serious and important accomplishments," says Mark Potok, director of the Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project, which monitors the activities of hate groups. "Historically, a major advance is followed by a backlash."
What to do? Don't be silent. Short-circuit racial slurs by speaking up, and step in to challenge biased assumptions. Encourage local schools and community groups to work with organizations specializing in such programs as the Teaching Tolerance project and the Anti-Defamation League, among others.
And remain optimistic. "The overall arc [of progress] is positive," says Potok. "But we have got to remain vigilant."
Reader Comments
Tolerance and Racism
On Tolerance, I have to agree 100% with the commenter "FLNonny of FL". Sadly, we live in a society where we are willing to "tolerate" and "accept" just about any lifestyle anyone wants to live. To be brutally honest, Americans have turned into a bunch of cowards who are too afraid to stand up for what's right. I'm personally a Christian, but I feel anyone, Christian, Jewish, Islamic, agnostic, atheist or whatever your beliefs may be, know homosexuality is unnatural, disgusting, immoral and just plain WRONG. You don't have to have religion to see how abnormal being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (whatever the hell that's supposed to be anyway) truly is. Any normal human being who has a brain knows this. I would go as far as to say being gay is a severe mental illness that I would consider nearly on par with being a pedophile who preys on children in elementary school. I don't care if that's offensive because it is the truth. It's a shame that anyone who is against the so-called "gay community" is automatically labeled a "racist", "hater", "homophobic", or even a "Nazi" for no other reason than standing up for what is right and normal. I'm not even going to get started on the two-faced people who act as though they are fine with anyone's "sexual preference", yet around the dinner table behind closed doors have a much different opinion. They are truly spineless and the highest forms of cowards possible. Another topic is racism. I am not an ignorant, unintelligent, uninformed or hateful towards any race of people whatsoever. However, I am a what you would call a "racist", and I'm not ashamed in the least because of it. I define "racist" who rejects the idea that every race is the same and equal with the only difference is the color of our skin. I do not feel I'm a supreme being, however I recognize there are very real, factual differences between all races of people. Anyone who truly believes the only difference in the different races is only the amount of melanin in our skin is a complete and total idiot. I'm not going to get into specifics for a few different reasons since I'm not here to debate race. I'm simply saying I feel it's important to stand up for what you believe in, even though it may not be a popular or PC position. Grow a spine, America! Also, I want to reinforce the fact I hate NO ONE. I simply choose to stay with my own race, which has proven to be true with any race of people. I'm a 33 y/o White male who chooses to stay with my own, but there are countless others of every race that totally agree with what I stand for. I'm by no means some uneducated, idiot "red neck". I've found out that if you remain respectful towards, don't intentionally insult others while intelligently sticking up for your values (again, even if they aren't "popular" or Politically correct") commands the respect of every reasonable person. "The truth is considered hate to those who hate the truth." I've found that to be very true.
"Tolerance" is not necessarily good
Sadly, the Tolerance Project along with just about every other "tolerance" project appears to have no tolerance for GOD's view that we should love sinners, but hate the sin (i.e. homosexual sex). The project also embraces abortion and includes it in basic human rights while forgetting the right to life by the growing, innocent baby in the womb. As a parent, I teach and model tolerance of many things, but killing babies and teaching that homosexual sex is "normal" is not included in those teachings. I answer to God, not to the secular, popular and easy teachings of the the Tolerance Project. Parents, please always check out the organizations pushed by newspaper and magazine editors (and others) before embracing what their material has to say. Our children are worth the thorough investigation!
Practice Spreading Tolerance like all the
fun loving gays that riot when anything happens that does fit their lifestyle.
I for one am sick of people not standing up for what the believe just so they can practices tolerance and be PC.
And for the gays, you will never get what you want by trying to shove you values down everyone's throats. How about a straight parade? We can have signs and floats that insult the gay lifestyle, and then we can come to your clubs and other public places and curse you and throw things and just make a big scene. How about that?
Spreading Tolerance please, that's the least of our problems.
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