Neil Steinberg’s column in the Chicago Sun-Times today is a fascinating and interesting read on the subject of intolerance, making that point that he’d prefer people just get their terrible, ignorant thoughts out there instead of hiding behind made-up facts and odd logic:
You know what I admire about bigots? And I’m not referring to the merely prejudiced, mutter-out-of-the-corner-of-their-mouth bigots, but the real wackos, the warped, scary, neo-Nazi, open Klansman, proudly sign-their-name haters.
You know what’s kinda great about them?
At least they’re candid. No pussyfooting around for them. They state their hate boldly, cast their slurs loudly and only then try to back it up with whatever false theories they believe support their irrational hatreds.
For everyone else, it’s the other way around. They timidly roll out their specious argument first, as if that were the important part, the crucial logic that made up their impartial minds, and led to their subsequent negative opinion, an unfortunate by-product.
Click over and read the whole thing, it’s worth the time.
This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 3, 2014.
I might be off the mark on this but isn’t this about ignorance & hatred {I know; “Read the article, stupid”. I did}? It is just as easy to hate bigots the same way bigots hate others but is that the right thing? I can pity them as well but the better thing is the example of my character. Do I speak up in the face of bigotry or just fume & rant on the forums?
Most postings regarding conservatives include accusations of the most extreme bigotry but such ignorance is not limted to any group. I have struggled for decades with the continued bigotry of one of my closest friends and his entire family, a prominent dynasty of Democrats right here in Casa Grande. One of many upstanding families who exploit the low cost of migrant labor while belittling these same people who contribute to the success of their businesses. I believe my friendship and subtle efforts to show my disagreement is more important than just walking away.
There is an old quote attributed to Archie Bunker, our most notorious image of ourselves. which is on a poster quite popular during the run of the program starring Carrol O’Connor. With a twinkle in his eye, this man of great insecurities is looking straight at the camera and the caption says: “There’s a little of me in all of us”.