Question of one-way tolerance

Carol Adams' May 23 letter, “Is Tolerance One Way?” challenges "liberals and the far left" as having “no tolerance for any person, institution or voter whose positions include that marriage is between one man and one woman. Yet, it appears that the disagreeing entities demand that everyone tolerate their same-sex marriage position fully." In her view, the political left needs to "practice what they preach" and offer tolerance to those on the opposing side.

It is not your opinion for which I have no tolerance. You are free to think about marriage in whatever way suits you. My lack of tolerance is around the notion that your ideas about marriage should control the institution of marriage for everyone else! Don't you see how utterly anti-American this is? The legislation of your opinion did not afford others a basic right.

My opinion has zero effect on your personal life and does not infringe on anyone's rights. If two gay men or lesbians marry, what impact does that have on your life? None. Can you still think about marriage in the way that you do? Yes.

On the flip side, you have taken your opinion and unfairly affected the lives of others with it. You have made it impossible for two consenting adults to marry. What I object to is not the position itself. It's what you've done with it. My opinion is not intended to control you in any way or even meant to lack tolerance. What you did with your opinion had every intention toward controlling and not tolerating others. In our democracy, with the call for separation of church and state no less, this is fundamentally wrong. It is for this, Carol, that I have no tolerance.

— Chandra Passero
Weaverville

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