I walked into the building this morning and saw the big purple sign and the green t-shirts, both inscribed with the words "i tolerate" ("itolerate," in the case of the t-shirts). On the purple sign, a heart dots the "i."
It's a noble cause (if I had gotten wind of the t-shirts, I might even be wearing one now), but I find that "tolerate" is a strange word to use. Just look at one of its main definitions: to endure without repugnance; put up with. And its synonyms: abide, accept, bear, brook, go, stand, stomach, suffer, support, sustain, swallow, take, withstand. This is just like the expression, "Love of the sinner, hate the sin." Basically, when you say that you are tolerating someone, you really hate what they do, but you'll brave through it. How stuck up is that?
I propose that we choose a new word, one of its synonyms: accept. I accept. I accept that people around me have different sexual orientations, different religions, different lifestyles. I accept that everyone else has a right to do what they like, and I'm okay with that. Other people are different from me, and I just have to ask, What's the problem with that?
So... I'll tolerate this week. I'll accept the people around me. Happy acceptance week.
Ylerecnis,
N
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