Can intolerance be turned into tolerance?

[Skidmore]

I posted this on another thread,and I wanted to explore it further:

There are a lot of long knives out on these boards right now. What we are failing to recognize is that this is a rare teaching moment for the nation with the media and our fellow citizens. As much as I abhor the comments Imus made and the rancid people he has surrounded himself with, this is an opportunity to teach someone how to change and in a very public way. To convert someone from using callous and hateful language to thinking about the impact of his words. This is a chance to create a new dialectic and in the haste to punish, I fear we will lose a catalyst for real change and at a crucial time. People can change and they can learn. If we want to teach tolerance, which we are all so ready to condemn, then let's seize the moment to condemn but truly teach this very public man about people who are not like him AND people who are like him. Learning to recognize your own biases and prejudices when they are mirrored elswhere in society is key to changing the way you interact with others.

Let us rethink the importance of this event and use it constructively.

Lots of intolerant speech has taken place over the last several years. We to have drawn lines and taken stand not to tolerate intolerance. However, I want to take this discussion to a different level. When you say that something cannot exist any more, what takes its place? What fills the space created by shutting down someone's hate speech? Where is that energy displaced? Does it just go underground and resurface later in the form of hate crimes? There are many other people who indulge in this form of hatefulness who need to be censured. Does our intolerance for intolerance also stifle change? Why not avail ourselves of a chance to teach. Is it all about shutting people up without replacing antisocial behavior with prosocial behavior?

[euromind]

1. a lesson

Shutting down someone's hate speech can be and is a lesson too.

[Skidmore]

2. Yes, it is a lesson. So is teaching someone how to speak and

act differently. For every backhanded slap you deal out, there is never room to extend an open hand offering another way? Punishment has its place but so does teaching. And when I speak of this, I'm not just speaking of this Imus situation. That will pass as do all things. I'm talking about meaningful change at all levels of our society.

[newyawker99]

5. Hi euromind!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[durrrty libby]

3. Lovely thoughtful post, but many in this country have a "Death Penalty" mentality

Yes, even so-called liberals.

As long as humans condone frying other humans,
we have little chance of becoming true humanists

[entanglement]

4. In an ideal world acceptance would be the goal, not tolerance

But I suppose that's somewhat unrealistic :(

[bryant69]

6. Recommended

I hate this kind of issue because it causes people to yell platitudes loudly. Even true platitudes get in the way of real communication and understanding. Many on all sides of this issue adopt a "If you don't agree with me already you are the enemy" mentality. That is not conducive to anything but more angry platitudes.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Bluerthanblue]

7. I'm not advocating ending Imus' life- if his show is his life, and his voice-

then what does that say about any of us who don't have our own radio program???

That we don't have a voice??

Maybe Imus needs to understand what being "DISEMPOWERED" feels like.
Unfortunately it wouldn't be 'disempowered' because of the color of his skin, his sex, ethnic background etc. But because of his ACTIONS- which is a 'natural concequence'. But maybe he could learn from the experience regardless.

Maybe Imus needs to revisit his childhood, and learn something from what he experienced. That lesson might begin with the understanding that what has been visited upon us when we are the most vunerable, what those who have power and authority over others do, is often beyond our control.
There isn't a lot we can 'do' to change things.

But when we DO 'grow up'- or begin to come out from under oppression, we are completely responsible for what WE do to OTHERS.

If I hate being taken advantage of- if I don't want to be judged and treated as 'less than' for something that I am, rather than what I do- then shame on me if I become the very thing I feared and hated.


He will still have a voice. He should not be financially rewarded for his verbally abusive behaviour.

[Skidmore]

8. I understand what you are saying.

Please don't misunderstand my point. There is a point at which all of the pain and ugliness in the world must be turned into solutions for its ills. I firmly believe that the best good comes from working with one person at a time. We are responsible for how we receive the treatment of others, but we are also responsible for the way in which we address that treatment. It is well past time to learn from each other in this world that we all bleed red and we all love and fear--there is no mystery to the human condition. What we demand of others, we must also demand of ourselves.

[Bluerthanblue]

9. we are in agreement I believe. If imus was to be fired- it would

not mean there would not be any further dialog with him.
It doesn't even mean he would be out of radio forever-

Actions have consequences for a reason. When I put my hand in the fire it hurts and I get burned.
Maybe I'll never be able to use that hand in the same way ever. But if I'm faced with the choice to put my hand in the fire again, I should make my decision on whether to do so or not taking my scars into consideration. Pain- consequences- are not pleasant. But they offer us a chance to learn and grow. To not make the same poor choices.

peace,
blu

I read a really good book called "The Happiness Code"- it's about a child who is constantly happy- and what a dangerous, and ultimately un-happy reality that might end up being.

[Bluerthanblue]

10. people usually hurt and exploit each other in a

mis-placed effort to find satisfaction.

When we are 'completed'- when we have the things all people really need to thrive- acceptance, self love, connection, we then have the energy, will and desire to ensure that others are equally fulfilled.

We cannot 'teach' things we don't really understand very successfully.- Can someone teach compassion and acceptance if they don't fully undersand what these concepts are?


This nation has been 'led' by a man who feels very little genuine empathy for others. His "humor" is cutting and sarcastic. He is disrespectful and arrogant. I've watched this trickle down and contaminate almost everything. I agree we should work to encourage pro-social behaviour. The best way to do this is by example, and by not letting anti-social behaviour just 'slide'.

peace
blu