Can you be free and intolerant at the same time?
Is it okay to restrict free speech, and free press? Will that cause problems for us later on?
After some thought, I have realized something that is important, and perhaps only obvious in hindsight - You can’t have freedom, unless you are willing to tolerate other people, and their weirdness. You don’t have to _like_ it, but you _do_ have to tolerate it.
An example might help. Say your neighbor has annoying habits. He has a barky dog, likes to target practice in the backyard, he drives too fast, and has loud parties every so often (true story).
If I call the law, on his loud party, what is likely to happen? He will do the same to me when/if I get loud. Or maybe he will get a few more dogs, drive faster, and have even more parties with free fireworks for the party guests."
Escalation.
“Well, then it’s Game-ON!”, you might say! I will then get some noise ordinances passed so his party has to stop at 9PM. Maybe 8pm I think, rubbing my hands diabolically together like Snidley Whiplash or Mr Bean. And maybe a law against how many dogs you are allowed to have. Yeah! And he has to walk it on a leash! And no dogs over 10 pounds. And maybe a law against dogs altogether!
Warming to the task, I make a list of ways to restrict his annoying habits…..And no handguns! Maybe no guns at all! Or he has to have a 10-foot wooden bulletproof fence to make me safe! And no gas-powered lawn mower, only electric (after all, I have to breathe that air)
.
Well….my neighbor can get laws passed also. Local politicians are happy to help. But recall that politicians only have one real ability - they can pass more laws.
So, at the end of this contest, we both find ourselves wrapped up in new red tape. We both lost some of our freedom to be happy. And it was because we couldn’t tolerate each other’s weirdness.
Now scale this up nationally. National politicians also have one ability. They can pass laws. And every law they pass restricts your freedom some more.
Think about it.
Happy Independence Day!
NOTE: Some habits are more than 'annoying'. I have had cars run over my cats, in front of my house, and I blame it on speeding. When I cross the street to my mailbox, I am very aware that there is a blind hill and people driving too fast. When they see me at the mailbox, they sheepishly slow down and wave. As a result, I’m not really happy about people roaring by too fast in front of my house. I'm also aware that when I hear my other neighbor shooting his M16, that this is some extra risk for me. etc. etc. So, some things are more than just annoying, but I try to put up with it. If it bothered me enough, I can move to a gated community with lots of rules.
Note2: Apparently I didn't invent this idea. According to Google, philosophers have been debating this for some time now. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson addressed the notion of a tolerant society in his first inaugural speech as President of the United States. Concerning those who might destabilize the United States and its unity, Jefferson stated: "let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance
References:
images by craiyon.com AI. Except the flag image by gemini.google.com
Thomas Jefferson on tolerance https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradox_of_tolerance
You are very tolerant. That M16 and cats getting run over is bad. That would test me for sure.