the ugliest word

I watched a mock debate on the Daily Show last week about whether the N word or the R word was uglier. R word was a euphemism for retarded and it got me thinking about what the real ugliest word is, outside of vulgarity or expletives, in English. It didn't take me long.

It's tolerance.

Tolerance is so often what we're told we need but the term itself is so misused, and overused, because it implies a very unpleasant, noblesse-oblige acceptance of those supposedly inferior to us.

Here is the Merriam-Webster definition of Intolerance:

1: capacity to endure pain or hardship : endurance, fortitude,stamina

2a: sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own

b : the act of allowing something : toleration

3: the allowable deviation from a standard; especially : the range of variation permitted in maintaining a specified dimension in machining a piece

4a (1) : the capacity of the body to endure or become less responsive to a substance (as a drug) or a physiological insult especially with repeated use or exposure <developed a tolerance to painkillers>; also : the immunological state marked by unresponsiveness to a specific antigen (2) :relative capacity of an organism to grow or thrive when subjected to an unfavorable environmental factor

b : the maximum amount of a pesticide residue that may lawfully remain on or in food

Examples of TOLERANCE

1. a tolerance for other lifestyles
2. The plants have a high tolerance for heat.
3. Some patients gradually develop a tolerance for the drug and need to be given a larger dose.
4. Some patients develop greater tolerance for the drug's effects.

Do you see what I mean?

"Tolerance" of other lifestyles?!

Who am I to "tolerate" other lifestyles or "indulge" other people's differences from me?

I do like the word sympathy in there; that strikes the right chord but otherwise, I have to say I'm pretty intolerant of tolerance. 

Big picture:

I don't recall Jesus telling anyone to tolerate their neighbour and, while Ghandi actually spoke of intolerance a few times I don't believe intolerance is its opposite; Grace is the opposite of intolerance. Tolerance is earned, grudgingly, it seems. Grace does not have to be earned and everyone is entitled to it.

So, put me down for an extra cup of Grace and you can keep your tolerance.

OK, sermon over. 

Comments

[Mike]

Tolerance is for wimps. Now love... love will get you nailed to a tree.

And it will change the world

Keep preaching bro.

[Leonardo Maldonado]

Couldn't agree more