Whatever Happened to Tolerance?

This question has been plaguing me all week.  First someone got on their high horse about saying "Merry Christmas" instead of "Happy Holidays."  Then in searching for an Etsy street team to join in the new year I came across one called "SANE" which stands for secularist atheist naturalist etsy team and subscribes to rational thought.

When did being passionate about our beliefs mean we have to insult the ones who don't share them?  Why do we feel the need to make ourselves superior?  When we call ourselves saved, the chosen ones, rational thinkers, higher beings, enlightened or whatever.  Doing so just makes us elitist because we're calling those not like us unsaved, cast-off, irrational, lowly, and unenlightened. 

I'm a Merry Christmas type person but I don't think it's bad to say Happy Holidays.  I don't even see why its an issue, really.  I don't know the belief systems of everyone I come into contact with every single day. I think it's just a nice thing to say to someone.

I remember when I was in elementary school how fun it was to learn about different people.  To learn about Ramadan or Chanukah was a real treat because when you're 8, 9 or 10 years old the world is just full of new things and everything is exciting.  We had a Christmas play AND a Chanukah play.  We never had a Jehovah's Witness party, but I hear those are hard to plan.  At least we talked about it when someone asked why the JW kids weren't saying the pledge of allegiance.  But then again I grew up in the hippy-dippy 70s where people didn't feel threatened because someone believed differently. 

Now we just all seem so hostile.  When did we get so dogmatic about our own beliefs?  It's all so exhausting!  I'm fine with what I believe, and I can accept that not everyone believes as I do.  My beliefs are within the thickness of my innermost self and I cease to be me without them.  therefore, it is not hard for me to believe that other's beliefs are the very core of their beings as well.  Doesn't mean we can't be decent to each other and refrain from name-calling.

Can't we all just get along?   Unless, of course, you're a Republican (just kidding! Ha ha! I kid!)

Comments

[Wendy]

I keed, I keed! Planning a JW party, haha. :)

I don't know, I think most people are pretty chill, but it's the ones who freak out that get all the attention and ruin everyone else's time. And sometimes it just seems that there's always one of them around. This world's just crowded, yo.

Merry Christmas you irrational G-dlover you! :)