The minute you call someone else “close-minded” is the minute you describe yourself.

    In this supposed age of tolerance, intelligence, and education, I have to say that I’ve had it up to here with how often I’ve heard the phrase “close-minded” and/or “small-minded.” Tolerance has come to mean that unless you happen to agree with me, you’re close-minded. When did the banner of tolerance give us an excuse to behave in such a selfish, holier-than-thou manner?

    To me, saying someone else is “close-minded” is the ultimate insult, and it’s the ultimate condemnation of whoever chooses to say it. It only serves to put a spotlight on the hypocrisy and pride of whoever is dishing it out like candy. It has always reminded me of what I think of as the perfect example of an oxymoron. As soon as it escapes your lips, you completely contradict yourself:

    “I’m the humblest person I know.”

    Too late; now that you had the nerve to say it, you’ve lost any trace of humility you once had.

    Merriam Webster describes tolerance as, “sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one’s own.” So often these days, so many people, groups, and even entire nations, regularly applaud themselves for how tolerant, politically correct, and brilliant they all are. And it never ceases to amaze me that these same groups, people, and nations are the first to point fingers at those who disagree with them. But they aren’t satisfied to simply agree to disagree; because anyone who disagrees with them is wrong, evil, and close-minded. Or even worse, has been “brainwashed.”

    Merriam Webster describes prejudice as, “an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics.” This is the absolute antithesis to tolerance. How can we hold ourselves up to be so tolerant, and yet be so ready & willing to lash out against anyone and everyone who has the colossal nerve to disagree with us? How can everyone else but us be so “close-minded”? Are we really that puffed up, that convinced of our own brilliant intellect and absolute unquestioning superiority, that we refuse to even acknowledge that anyone else has the basic right to come to their own opinions, no matter how they may differ from our own?

    This goes beyond prejudice. Insulting the very nature of another human being’s intelligence and the right to come to their own conclusions isn’t just bigotry. It’s selfishness, false pride, and is the basis for discrimination, hatred, and persecution. Is our own pride worth all of that? How can we be so willing to throw out such broad and hateful terms at a moment’s notice? I thought we were peaceful, I thought we were compassionate, I thought we were tolerant. I thought we had grown and matured past such hateful language and all-encompassing attitudes.

    I’m tired of seeing “love thy neighbor” being forgotten, replaced in favor of rash generalizations, insults, pride, and bigotry. Are we so blinded that we can’t even admit that maybe, just maybe, the opinions of others – despite being different, or even completely contrary to our own – are just as valid, just as good, and maybe even just as “right” as our own? Just different. Or did we all miss that episode of Sesame Street when they sang, “One of these kids is not like the other; one of these kids is doing his own thing”?

    I’m not asking that we all mix up tolerance and acceptance. I’m not trying to say that by tolerating someone else’s opinions, we need to fully accept them into our lives. There is a profound and important difference between tolerance and acceptance, a difference that has been disfigured until both words have almost lost their meaning. Just remember, you have the right to come to your own opinions because everyone does. If you deny that right to others, you’ll only be hindering yourself.

    Please. Let’s all get off our high horses, and realize that false pride, prejudice, and hatred won’t get us anywhere. True humility, tolerance, and selfless love can work wonders. And if ever we needed it, we need it now more than ever. No matter who we are or what we choose to believe in, we could all use a little more maturity, a little more humility; a little more true tolerance.