Recently, I’ve seen several memes quoting, “History is not there for you to like or dislike; it is there for you to learn from it. And if it offends you, even better, because then you are less likely to repeat it. History is not yours to erase or destroy. Teach that to your children.”
In an editorial, Dianna Greenwood penned, “that doesn’t mean we tear the monument down or run around crying about how it victimizes us. Instead use them as teaching tools, to tell the current and next generations about a time in history we do not want to return to.” It means teaching our history, the good and the bad. As the author of “1984” and “Animal House”, George Orwell affirmed “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.”
Yet we mock, delegitimize or destroy aspects of history. We want our way despite what others may think. It’s been said to me, “please tell me you’re not going to vote for _____.” The old give-and-take attitude seems to be lacking... all too evident among those who mock or belittle, especially within today’s world of politics… where a war of words continues to erupt, and people are canceled. It seems absolute truth and moral or ethical standards have become a negative, a cause for ridicule or derision… while relativism, or determining our own truth as we want it to be, is more often revered.
Authors like Laura Ingalls Wilder, Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens (and even Dr. Seuss) have become suspect, apparently not worth our reading in today’s political correctness. They, like so many others, wrote about the way life was as they experienced it while walking upon this earth, something we can learn from. The Wilder Award in literature has been renamed the Children’s Literature Legacy Award because Wilder used words from a different era, inappropriate for today. We were appalled at censorship, banning and burning of books many years ago, but even now we walk a fine line of what is appropriate. Rather than using it as a learning experience, we disallow our children to read of life in other times when words or language we now recognize as inappropriate were used. Even our Holy Bible is often considered unacceptable because it might offend… despite its containing the best standards to live our life by.
As discerning parents, we did not allow our children to read a few specific books in high school with blatant promiscuous sex and distortion of family values. We discussed why the books were inappropriate reading material with our children and school staff. We were told by the principal that, because we calmly explained our objections, the school graciously saw our valid points and gave alternative reading material. In Jenn’s case, after giving one particular oral book report, a few classmates told her they wished they’d read that book instead of the original proffered book. A true story, her book showed a quality of character in the challenges a young man faced as an Olympian runner diagnosed with cancer. Unable to compete, he turned to helping inner city under-privileged kids. A great life example!
The book read by the rest of the class, however, was filled with gratuitous sex, filthy language, and mocking of parental/family values – found when I simply opened the book at random junctures. In actuality, the teacher told his students to seek their parents’ permission to read that book. Apparently, if other students showed it to their parents like Jenn, we were the only ones who said, “no way!” Even the school board was shocked to learn what that book held. It was pulled from the school’s required reading list, and the teacher complimented us on our stance, saying he learned a lot from us. There truly is a time for discernment of right and wrong when done with respect. I was later told by a parent how much she agreed with and respected me for doing this, but was hesitant to take the public stand I had. I understand.
My poem below began to flow with news of the violence and destruction of our nation’s historical monuments in the summer of 2017 and since. Removing such historical memorials does not erase or change history… except for the younger generations who never learn its truths. There are lessons learned in those memories earned. We’ve come so far. We’ve grown in understanding and acceptance. We are not perfect as individuals or as a nation, but isn’t that cause for celebration rather than erasure? Our differences can be teachable moments. That’s what Freedom of Speech is all about… a chance to show love and respect even in expressing disagreement, revealing true tolerance, not denigrating or canceling someone just because you don’t like their stance or voting intention.
Tolerance, by definition, is an ability to be fair, to accept a viewpoint which is different, and to realize that the opposition also has rights… without approving wrong by our silence or going into full rage when disagreeing with the alternative view. Perhaps we remember that society’s Golden Rule (which promotes tolerance when you think about it), actually comes from the words of Jesus in his Sermon on the Mount: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law…” (Matthew 7:12a)
Nor is tolerance a license to do anything we want at will. A moral society adheres to absolute truths of right and wrong, or it breaks down without this solid foundation… as we see with preferential treatment of criminals being put back out on the street where they too often commit more crimes… because they were not held responsible and accountable for their prior criminal acts.
We can be cognizant and tolerant of others’ opinions or beliefs, respecting our differences… but that does not mean we tolerate rude or foul language, or abusive, bullying, or violent and criminal behavior. Tolerance is not freedom to persist in traveling down a wrong path. There are consequences for everything we do... and there is a time and place for speaking out respectfully against what we disagree with, or against inappropriate words or actions.
So where did tolerance go? Too often it seems tolerance is relegated to that which accepts and promotes a particular politically-correct agenda to the exclusion and canceling of the opposing view and person… not appreciating a respectful explanation… putting others into that so-called “basket of deplorables.”
What happened to our ability to show respect through appropriate discussion and explanation of one’s viewpoint? What happened to Freedom of Speech? Why the hate-filled, foul-worded, and/or disparaging language? Why violence with riots and destruction, or angry rhetoric to disallow conservative or religious speakers, even on college campuses where all perspectives are supposed to be welcomed? What is there to be afraid of… that others might actually have valid points of truth, different from your own perspective and agenda, promoting a deeper thought process?
Fear of a differing opinion by engaging in anger and wrath toward that with which one disagrees serves no viable purpose. We have heard mobs calling for their rights or else violence will ensue… while proclaiming how tolerant and justified they are! Seems to me that violence as a coercive bully tactic is anything but tolerance. Perhaps it would be wise to observe that true tolerance… the courtesy to listen, agreeing to disagree in appropriate discourse… comes by respecting another’s viewpoint, their freedom of speech, without the backlash of vitriolic speech and/or destructive violence.
When morality and true tolerance steps up and extends a hand in respect, we’re living out the ancient Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). Given by God to Moses for the Jewish nation during its exodus from centuries of Egyptian slavery, these words still serve us well as a moral foundation for life even in today’s modern society. Doing our best to live out Jesus’ words, we show great love and respect for others… “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” (Matthew 7:12 NIV) – just as we wish to be treated. With this love, and acceptance of those with whom we disagree, we embody Christ’s love, for “love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.” (I Corinthians 13:6 NIV)
Tolerance by Linda A. Roorda
Could I but live a life that was safe
I wouldn’t question differences encountered.
I would not wrestle with problems I face
Or troubles inherent with consequent strife.
~
For if I the bad from this life expunged
I’d then have left the best for display.
My life would exist by my design
For my benefit and pleasure alone.
~
Remove the memories and mask the failures
Fashion the remains to what I deem fit.
Let visible be selfish ambition
My life according to myself and me.
~
I have no tolerance for views but mine
My way is right and suspect is yours.
I demand my way and fight you I will
If only to prove entitled am I.
~
Yet what I now see is your hand held out
Bearing a gift, tolerance by name.
You’ve come to my aid and lift me up
To help me stand with dignity tall.
~
There’s a price, you see, for this freedom shared
It’s a cost in red that flowed for us all.
And it grants relief from oppression’s fist
That your words and mine comingle in peace.
~~
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