tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1075197587804505551.post7984289501561536426..comments2013-03-28T20:53:24.787-07:00Comments on Opposite Ends of Infinity: Bigoted? Intolerant?Alii Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16903808291841951523noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1075197587804505551.post-4338812175981309852009-07-15T18:31:05.736-07:002009-07-15T18:31:05.736-07:00Hi, Alli, and thank you for the mention in your po...Hi, Alli, and thank you for the mention in your post. :)<br /><br />Of more interest is the topic of the post itself. I agree with you completely on this one. There is a big difference between a personal belief, even one that implies an exclusive deed to "rightness," and being intolerant or displaying bigotry. Until and unless the person holding such belief tries to force others to believe it, too, it is a personally held spiritual belief, and those are sacred. Of course, the person claiming intolerance and bigotry has a right to believe that, as well. <br /><br />All the hoo-ha about beliefs seems to be rooted in two things - the way we react to knowing someone believes differently from us (implying that we're - gasp! - wrong), and the behavior of the believers. <br /><br />I hope the person in the article can get over the pain of being burned and move on to feeling in control of his or her own right to believe anything he or she wants. It's our absolute, irrevocable, undeniable right and <i>responsibility</i> to decide for ourselves what's right or wrong. We can say what we believe outloud. We can think other beliefs are wrong. It is also our right and responsibility to decide how we will react to being thought wrong, how we will allow other, contrary beliefs to affect us. I typically try to let them have as little effect on me as possible. I do draw the line at any attempt to force me to change my beliefs to be more like someone else's. Note the use of the word <i>force</i>. I don't count gentle, respectful witnessing or honest debate as trying to force me to do anything. I'm free to listen or not, to act or not. Unless sharing of beliefs crosses the line into force, harrassment or disrespect, the only potential harm is from my own choice of reaction.<br /><br />Now if I could just force everyone to believe that way. ::grin::Autumn Heartsonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13533064862881845253noreply@blogger.com