Political Intolerance
I’ve heard a lot lately about how we need to be tolerant of one another’s political views. I hear this, I suspect, because I’m not tolerant of most people’s politics. I’m told we can have a good argument about our positions on the issues, but when we’re done, we must get over our silly infatuations so we can all be friends again. Because, after all, it’s just an exchange of opinions, right?
How about slavery? Suppose one of your friends began to argue in earnest that slavery was not only beneficial in history because the nations of the west were built on free labor from whipped African backs, but that the nations of the world need to return to a slave economy. If it’s the only political position they will entertain, would you continue to be their friend?
But suppose to justify the slavery this person said things like, “these people simply cannot take care of themselves,” “they’re far too simple and stupid to live free,” and “they need to be protected from the world and their own bad behavior.” Could you see how they might have a point?
Suppose this person said the slaves would be allowed to choose their masters and the work they did to serve those masters. It might be a bit arduous and complicated for the slaves to change their positions, or it may be made simpler with bribes and favors. But either way the slaves may not work if they don’t have a master’s even hand to guide them. And if they work for themselves, their most recent master may hunt them down and force them to work for him or even kill them if they resist. Would that convince you to believe in the righteousness of this person’s plan?
Suppose that the slaves this person wants to create were allowed by their master to keep as much as half of what they earned after all accounts with the master were settled—perhaps they could keep as much as three quarters if they weren’t able to earn much—Instead of just the shacks and rags and vegetable patches that were the bulk of the possessions of slaves in the US of old. And suppose also the slaves were allowed to trade what they were allowed to keep with other slaves in ways approved of by the masters. Would you accept their position as reasonable then?
Suppose this person insisted everybody—both you and he included—should be enslaved this way. And suppose instead of “slaves” this person says these people should be called “citizens,” that the nations of the world may be their masters, and that most of the rest of the people in the world have already submitted to this position. Would that make the enslavement they propose tolerable?
Regards,
Chris Hitzroth
May 21, 2009
ShareThis
I liked your approach to the issue. Most people would only realise close to the end what you are conveying. Well written.
Dear Chris:
Nice job, as usual, and I always like a “fast break” ending.
More has been done to enslave us in the last decade, and done more openly and blatantly, than in the period since the end of WWII, which is not to treat lightly all of the little bits and pieces which have been incorporated through “executive orders” and regulations since then. Few are aware that in a “national emergency” the president is free to declare at any time, FEMA will be in charge and NO ONE can question its acts or decisions for six months. I fail to find that reassuring. The President, again under “national emergency” conditions, can dismiss Congress for six months.
As for slaves…as strongly as I resent the constant additions to my shackles, what upsets me more is what the kind, benevolent Left has done to the descendants of former slaves. You have inspired me to have the courage of my convictions and go pull out at least three articles I have written on the subject, see which is the least inflammatory, and try to do something with it!
Life on the ghetto plantation is so much worse than anything that happend to a VERY few actual slaves that it should make all of us boiling mad. OUR tax dollars are being used to keep millions in servitude for the cynical reason of assured voting blocks.
I’m no Rosa Parks to raise a fuss over sitting in the back of the bus, but fair is fair, right is right, and we cannot sit by idly any longer while another thirty million or so illegals are enrolled in a lifestyle that destroys initiative and leads to ignorance and poverty and impoverishes all of us.
Regards,
Linda Brady Traynham
.
Very Good. Though I do wonder what percentage of people (“these people simply cannot take care of themselves,” “they’re far too simple and stupid to live free,” and “they need to be protected from the world and their own bad behavior.” ) are bright enough to even understand what you are getting at. (Readers of this web site largely excluded. Oh course.) Keep up the good work!
Amen, and thank you for the article. Can it be we will all be “slaves of the master” some day, or will America wake up?
This is a very smart article; I like the way the idea is developed.
[...] Political Intolerance By Chris Hitzroth via Whiskey & Gunpowder I’ve heard a lot lately about how we need to be tolerant of one another’s political views. I hear this, I suspect, because I’m not tolerant of most people’s politics. I’m told we can have a good argument about our positions on the issues, but when we’re done, we must get over our silly infatuations so we can all be friends again. Because, after all, it’s just an exchange of opinions, right? [...]
Dear # 6:
How about, we’ll be “tolerant” of their ideas when they start being “tolerant” of ours? No, not even then, because they are WRONG.
We already are slaves to an extent and have been since slavery was abolished for capitalism. No one could get free labor any longer. However, they would only pay enough for a family to barely make a living…. No one owned us – we were free to pay for our own healthcare and work as many hours as our bodies could take… in order to make more money. The game was to manipulate prices of what we buy for bigger profits…. We pay taxes on what we make – largely touted to be spent for the public good – education for our children etc… while they decide we can’t allow our kids to pray in school… the subject is huge – One classic example of how little the “ruling government” respects the american public is in their stimulus checks…. really – how far will $350 go versus millions to the banks…. or a tax break of $500 – $1,200. ? “the stimulus checks have already been spent” the statisticians say…. it didn’t provide much for GDP or retailers profits…
Just my random thoughts…
Judy Landeros
Thank you all for the kind words.