Intolerance

It is man’s egocentric ways and false teachings we learn as we are children and throughout life. Some religions have no tolerance for others, some races no tolerance for others, we condemn people because they look different, talk different, have a different style of life, a different sexual preference, are physically or mentally disabled, or are poor because of lack of education and/or jobs, have a college degree or not, or have a different way of seeing things (and this leads us back to “How something appears is always a matter of perspective...”. Who gives us the right to discriminate against a fellow human being?

No problems can be solved by ignoring them and not talking about it, but there is a gigantic difference in reasonable debate and discussion rather than allowing our ego to get in the way and only seeing things through our own perspective then trying to discuss the other side of the equation. So often in my life I’ve heard there are three sides to every story - his, hers, and the truth which usually lies in between. Even worse than skirting the issues and keeping silent, is seeing a problem and not trying to do something about it. “I looked around and wondered why somebody wasn’t doing something, but then I realized I was “somebody”.

Martin Niemöller

Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:

• “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. “

Recently I’ve seen people add:

• Then they came for the Christians, and I did not speak out -- Because I was not a Christian,

but can’t we also add:

• Then they came for the moderate and peaceful Muslims, and I did not speak out - Because I was not a Muslim?

People, it is time for us to realize that there are good and bad in all religions and cultures. We are plagued with daily news about Jews, Christians, and moderate/peaceful Muslims being kidnapped, raped, beheaded, set on fire, and killed in other horrible ways by radical extremist terrorists all under the pretense of somehow being superior, out of the greed for money and power, but they use the name of God to cover up their actions, so it is time for all of us to open our eyes and not blame any particular group of people by painting them with one big brush stroke.. These radical extremists are not religious leaders; they do not speak for the masses.

Are the terrorists that lead our daily news any different than the people who rape, steal, and murder one another every day in the streets and neighborhoods of our own cities and country? We call them gangs, or criminals, but they also come from the same perspective, one of lack of respect for themselves or others, lack of respect for the sanctity of life, lack of respect for other people’s property and/or rights, and all in the name of greed for money, power, or instant gratification.