Fish on "Tolerance"

[Will Linden]

On Fri, 4 Jan 2002, Rick Duncan wrote:
> So, like Alan Brownstein, I support both the concept
> *and the practice* of tolerance. But when I hear many
> people talking about taking action in the name of
> tolerance, I am on full alert for the club that is
> about to be used by the tolerant activists to batter
> people who have a different understanding of the good.
>

 "....'When I meet rogues,' he said 'who choose
 "'To cherish oppositional views,
 "'Lady, like this, and in this manner,
 "'I lay about me with my banner,
 "'Till they cry mercy, ma'am!' His blows
 "Rained proudly on prospective foes."

 "Fearful, I turned and left him there,
 "Still muttering, as he thrashed the air,
 "'Let the intolerant beware!'"

 --Phyllis McGinley, "The Angry Man"




Will Linden  wlinden at panix.com
http://www.ecben.net/
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