Tolerance:

Sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one’s own.

That, according to Merriam-Webster, is the definition of tolerance.

How long before the liberal-leaning, politically correct crowd forces Webster to change its definition?

Tolerance, by definition, is predicated upon there being a disagreement. If we do not disagree on an issue, it is not considered “tolerance.” By definition it becomes an “agreement.”

Shocking, I know.

There is a movement to redefine the meaning of tolerance. We are being told that unless we agree with the popular opinions of the local and national media, the vocal stars in Hollywood, or the latest judicial bureaucrat, we are intolerant bigots who stain America’s loving and wholesome character with our opinions. We are demigods who are filling the country’s air with hatred.

We are called bigots, hateful, judgmental, hypocrites, homophobes (on one issue in particular), and intolerant.

And the ones who shout these demeaning names at us have the audacity to call themselves the tolerant ones.

I have the right to my opinion. I have the right to believe what I choose. I have the right to live by standards that I obtained growing up. As long as these beliefs and choices do not hurt anyone else, I have the right to live the way I choose, to vote the way I choose and to speak out about those things which I choose. I have a right to stand by those beliefs, regardless of the popular opinion.

You have the right to disagree with me.

You have the right to choose to live by different standards and beliefs. As long as those standards don’t hurt anyone else, I respectfully tolerate your difference of opinion.

You know the old adage; we agree to disagree?
Yeah, that’s tolerance.