As Ian was so good to point out yes, I was hypocritical by blogging two separate posts in the same day, one espousing tolerance of views you don’t agree with, and intolerance of stupid idiots, err, those who don’t agree with me. He’s got an excellent point. I struggle all the time to respect the viewpoints of those who are extremely opposed to my own. It’s in human nature to do so I suppose.

I apologize if, in the past, present, or future I offend by spewing forth vitriolic comments which rival those of the far right in intensity. At our hearts we’re all the same and want many of the same things (health, fortune, good times, etc.)

I suppose I’m tolerant of anything and anyone except intolerance and those who practice it. It is who I am. I can meditate and all that Zen crap (just kidding Joel!) to reach a more enlightened state, and I will constantly grapple with how a truly enlightened Zennist should balance not overly acting out against outrageously wrong actions versus doing something to make the world better. In other words, I know the truly enlightened one doesn’t just sit there and do nothing while Hitler holds parades by him, but at the same time he doesn’t get up and scream, yell, and throw things at the fascist/zealot/psychopath/Republican (ow! zing! sorry, couldn’t pass up the opportunity). He does something in between.

In the end, with all their hateful words, laws, and violence, prejudiced extremists cannot extinguish that innate human trait: to carry on. A more enlightened world will one day look back on such extremists with regret and shame, much as we do now at those of the past. And in the meantime, while I can wish all I want for that time to come now, the least I can do is help where I can to make it come sooner rather than later, and enjoy my time I have here and now.