Intolerance Is......

Intolerance is_______ you fill in the blank.

Intolerance Is….

 

I will always be intolerant of intolerance.

It was not three years ago in which I was intolerant of homosexuality and homosexuals, then after my freshmen year in high school I found that they are the most trustworthy friends you can have. But I soon found they where violently discriminated, and ruthlessly attacked both verbally and physically.

               “MORE POWER TO THOSE WHO ARE DIFFERENT” is a saying I do not know who said it, but they are wrong. No one is different, not atheists to Christians, and not a straight man to a homosexual man. Christians wake up in the morning, go to work, come home, eat dinner, and go to bed. Atheists wake up in the morning, go to work, come home, eat dinner, and go to bed.

Straight men, and straight women all, fall in love, get in a relationship, get their hearts broken, find someone they want to spend their life with, get married have children, and then eventually die. Homosexual men and homosexual women all, fall in love, get in a relationship, get their hearts broken, find someone they want to spend their life with, get married have children, and then eventually die.

 For me to meet my little sister’s boy friend, and explain to him what the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual) community is to get a response like “F**s should all die.” With no hint of a joking overtone, makes my heart break. What is worse is that when I move to defend the LGBT community, I am told to be quiet, I am told to stop talking about it, and I am not given a chance to defend friends and family from the segregation bigotry that is the American teenagers understanding of the LGBT community.

 

Admittedly I do get defensive; this happens with most liberals, we are passionate people when it comes to anything we firmly believe in, as with anyone I would hope.

Later the topic of LGBT marriage was brought up, and my little sisters boyfriend announced that “they can have legal partnership, but they cannot get married.” I asked “why” he announced that it is “because they do not follow the path of god and in the bible it states marriage is between a man and a woman.”  This made me realize that he is speaking from pure ignorance of the LGBT community; he knows nothing of the community itself. “First, most of my homosexual friends are Christians. Second, if you are going to axe people who do not believe in god from being married then you are axing your girlfriend, her best friend, and I from ever being married to any of our significant others. And thirdly, marriage is a legal matter, not a spiritual one. If you want it to be spiritual, fine then when you get married, have it be a religious experience the homosexual culture is not trying to stop you, why do you want to stop them?” and he replied with “because they are stupid f*****s.” At this point I was told to be quiet from my sisters… I hope they saw the same blinding ignorance I saw in those final five words.

“I, like many members of my generation, was concerned with segregation and the repeated violation of civil rights.” �" Joseph E. Stigletz

“Marriage is an institution fits in perfect harmony with the laws of nature; whereas systems of slavery and segregation were designed to brutally oppress people and thereby violated the laws of nature.” �" Jack Kingston

“Segregation never brought anyone anything, except trouble.”-Paul Harris

“When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.”-Leonard P. Matlovich

“Homosexuality is god's way of insuring that the truly gifted aren't burdened with children.” -Sam Austin

“Who would give a law to lovers?  Love is unto itself a higher law.” �"Boethius

“Jesse Helms and Newt Gingrich were shaking hands congratulating themselves on the introduction of an antigay bill in Congress.  If it passes, they won't be able to shake hands, because it will then be illegal for a prick to touch an a*****e.”-Judy Carter

“If Homosexuality is a dieses, let’s all call in Queer to work!”- Robin Tyler

“War.  Rape.  Murder.  Poverty.  Equal rights for gays.  Guess which one the Southern Baptist Convention is protesting?” -The Value of Families

The next 2 quotes are from one of the most influential men of the 20^th century.

“Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can't ride you unless your back is bent.”-Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”-Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

When will the ignorance, the hatred, and the Intolerance, end?

=

Intolerance is……..

Author's Note

the eleven quotes from the end where provided by my many LGBT friends and some family members of theirs. as this is a writing website, i am sure most of you already agree with these words. but i feel that is i let my words be heard, to those who know that i am not homosexual, but can see that i feel just as strongly towards the segregative division that some people are rioting for. because a fair number of my closest friends are homosexual, but also, the afairs of love have no place i the oval office. and how ingnorant todays youth is, it is from the parents, from the adults in these kids lives who make them look down upon those who are Homosexual. even though in truth they are no different than you or me. they love, they hate, they marry, they divorce (not a frequently as straight couples tho...) and who is to stop the protesters to go deeper into the segregation?? "NO ATHEIST MARRIAGES!!!" or "NO PAGANS IN TEXAS!!!" or "RAGHEAD POLITICS ARE HUSSEIN POLITICS" the last one is one that i have seen before. Purple is the international color for the support of the LGBT community. LGBT=Lesbian,Gay,Bisexual,Transsexual. But i believe that labeling them as LGBT is another form of segregation, no different that labeling a black man a nigger.... it is just as ignorant and wrong.
if i offended any one by stating the word "Nigger" i apologize, i said it only to use as an example as to former segregative words.

~~Novelists Elite~~
Display: ShaneBerry
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Name: Shane
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Join Date: 03-25-2011

Reviews

[Rain]

I agree with your opinion. People can be so stupid sometimes >_>"
Glad you posted this to voice out this opinion.
Though, it is human nature to reject and be uncomfotable around things they're not used to. To me the quote by Leonard P. Matlovich was very strong. This piece has you thoughtful...

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Shane,

This is a fantastic piece that shows tremendous personal growth. Here is the basic problem. Humans are still monkeys. That will ruffle the feathers of many, but monkeys are easily upset. We are a work in progress. We will fall short of the mark in so many respects. I do not exclude myself from this pronouncement. We are all so finite and imperfect. So we are intolerant. All animals kill those who are not like themselves, like the majority of their community. It is a tradition that is not human alone. Indeed, we humans should strive to distinguish ourselves from other life on this planet by rising above this common and mean behavior. Perhaps we will, but probably not any time soon. I'm glad your eyes have opened and you had the personal courage to step up to the plate and write this piece. Impressive. Well done. This is one step toward the light. I hope you will keep walking with your intellect wide and open, keen and distinguishing.

Nice one, Shane. I've commented mostly of the piece's content. However this would not have been as powerful it the writing wasn't compelling. Excellent work, here. Congratulations.

Very best regards. High marks.

Rick

[Robin]

you learned a important lesson in friendship and glad you shared your open minded views about being human .

[lifesmith]

Leonard P. Matlovich's quote just goes to show how upside down our priorities are. Not many people are willing to admit where they stand and you have. great job ShaneBerry!

[Coyote Poetry]

We live in a world where the men in-charge are more interested in other folks problems. I went to the Iraq wars and never understood what I was fighting for. Freedom isn't cheap. The Martin Luther King Jr. quote is true. We must bend down to allow our freedom to be lost. Better to stand tall for freedom. What right do I have to say what is right or wrong in another person life. Personal life is not the business of government. A powerful poem. I could have a long discussion on this topic. Coyote

[Vanessa Rico]

I am glad that you wrote this to promote awareness! I congratulate you and support your stance on the matter! Great job!

[*[[ Cadence ]]*]

this is really great! intolerance is unnecessary and pointless..we should love everyone reguardless of sex,race,or sexual orientation. excellent write (: