Practice what you preach: tolerance

Raul Herrera/Staff Writer

One of the most popular tropes in storytelling is that of a character who does not fully practice what they preach. This particular individual promotes an important cause and seems to be vehemently in favor of it. However, later in the tale, he or she is revealed to only apply the cause where it is convenient. In other words, they are hypocritical.

Sadly, as with many things in storytelling, this reflects reality. Some groups that preach “tolerance” end up doing the exact opposite in practice.

Case in point: in the state of Oregon, a bakery known as “Sweet Cakes” was sued for refusing to serve a wedding cake for a lesbian wedding. The reason for which the bakers, Melissa and Aaron Klein, declined service is because of their religious beliefs regarding marriage.

Now, had you only listened to activist groups, you would think that the situation involved two card-carrying Westboro Baptist ‘Church’ members shouting insensitive expletives at an innocent and unsuspecting homosexual woman and her mother until they ran out of the store, wondering why America still supports such homophobia.

But in reality, nothing of the sort happened. All the Kleins did was say that they could not serve a wedding cake for that particular ceremony. They never said that they reject the LGBT community from buying their cakes. They just laid down an exception based on religious causes.

And yet, they still received death threats filled with odious and venomous language. Activists intimidated their customers and business partners. The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries investigated them for discrimination. Sweet Cakes was forced to close its shop and operate from home after the media coverage of the incident.

In essence, those who preached tolerance evinced the exact opposite. And this is not a unique occurrence. According to a piece by NPR, similar events happened to several bakeries, a florist shop and a photographer across the country. The business owners in question were accused of discrimination simply because they wanted to practice their religion freely.

If it’s discrimination for business owners to model the guidelines of their commerce on their religious beliefs, does this mean that I am within my right to go to a Muslim deli and demand that they give me roast pork? Of course, I would never do such a thing, as it would be unkind. So why is there an exception in the other situations?

If the answer to the above question is that the business owners were “acceptable targets,” then the modern day norm of tolerance has been twisted to mean “putting up with those within your comfort zone.” Instead of showing “the willingness to accept beliefs that are different from one’s own,” as the Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it, tolerance now means that one can safely reject certain perspectives and demonize them without actually hearing what they are about.

Now, if this proposition sounds offensive, then those who adamantly preach tolerance while going against the very definition of the word may simply show honesty. In the event that your lenience towards other viewpoints has exceptions, you should be open about it.

Simply put, rather than screaming at those who disagree and labeling them as hateful for daring to have a different perspective, why not look inwardly and analyze your approach to those on the other side of the aisle? This is a challenge that I offer to FIU, a university full of people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Note that my writing here is not meant to be derogatory or offensive. I am not even attempting to take a side on important public issues such as gay marriage in this particular piece, nor am I directly endorsing the Kleins themselves and their practices. I am only pointing to a way to enhance and facilitate the clear and present public debate, a way that ensures that all standpoints are presented at the table.

Practice what you preach or don’t preach it at all.

raul.herrera@fiusm.com 

Sources:

1. “‘STUPID BIBLE-THUMPING…B**CH’: BAKERY THAT REFUSED TO MAKE GAY COUPLE’S WEDDING CAKE SPEAKS OUT AMID THREATS, ECONOMIC WOES,”via The Blaze

2. “TODD’S AMERICAN DISPATCH: Christian bakery closes after LGBT threats, protests,” via Fox News

3. “Wedding Vendors That Refuse Gay Customers Often Lose In Court,” via NPR

 

4. “Tolerance,” via Merriam-Webster.com 

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