Tolerance

We are instructed to have Tolerance. The Church teaches us:
“Tolerance as a gospel principle means love and forgiveness of one another, not “tolerating” transgression. In today’s secular world, the idea of tolerance has come to mean something entirely different. Instead of love, it has come to mean condone – acceptance of wrongful behavior as the price of friendship. Jesus taught that we love and care for one another without condoning transgression. But today’s politically palatable definition insists that unless one accepts the sin he does not tolerate the sinner. As Elder Dallin H. Oaks has explained, Tolerance obviously requires a non-contentious manner of relating toward one another’s differences. But tolerance does not require abandoning one’s standards or one’s opinions on political or public policy choices. Tolerance is a way of reacting to diversity, not a command to insulate it from examination. The Church does not condone abusive treatment of others and encourages its members to treat all people with respect." (from http://newsroom.lds.org )

I constantly hear from the mainstream media how intolerant right winger are of other people's view. However, I beg to differ. I lived in Portland, Oregon long enough to know, the liberals are very tolerable of your beliefs as long as they are the same as theirs. For example in 2004 during the elections, If you had a Bush bumper sticker - as we did - you would get flipped off by those ever loving tolerant liberals. If your car was left unattended with a Bush bumper sticker then you risked it getting vandalized or keyed up. Put a Bush sign up on your lawn, and it would get ripped off. You may think I am joking, but unfortunately I'm not.
Luckily, this year we are not in Portland (liberal land), but just the other day I heard people call in on Victoria Taft show (a local radio show) complaining about the same things in Portland that we experienced with Bush four years ago. McCain yard signs are getting ripped off and vandalized. People have been flipped off on the road by 'tolerant' liberals for having a McCain bumper sticker. And people are afraid to take their cars to work with McCain bumper sticker because they fear their car will be all keyed up and vandalized

And Yet, here is another example of how liberals showed tolerance to other point's of view: (from www.protectmarriage.com)

PROP. 8 SUPPORTER VIOLENTLY ATTACKED FOR DISTRIBUTING LAWN SIGNS

October 13, 2008
Contact: Chip White/Sonja Eddings Brown, 916-215-4392
"MODESTO-October 13—In a violent display of intolerance, an opponent of Proposition 8 attacked and seriously injured a man who was volunteering on Sunday for the initiative to define marriage as between and a man and a woman.
Prop. 8 supporter, Jose Nunez, 37, was brutally assaulted while waiting to distribute yard signs to other supporters of the initiative after church services at the St. Stanislaus Parish in Modesto.
The assailant grabbed about 75 signs and yelled at Nunez accusingly, “What do you have against gays!” Although Nunez replied that he had nothing against gays, he was attacked anyway. The assailant punched Nunez in the left eye and ran off with the signs.
Nunez, his eye dripping with blood, walked into a building on church grounds where a fellow parishoner called 911. Police and paramedics responded to the scene.
Nunez, who suffered a bloody eye, serious wounds to his face, and a scratch to his knee, was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital where he received 16 stitches under his eye.
According to the Yes on 8 campaign, the attack shows that their opponents are not as tolerant and open-minded as they would like voters to believe.
“It’s outrageous that the No campaign calls themselves the voice of tolerance and moderation and wants people to feel bad for supporting Prop. 8. There was nothing tolerant or moderate about beating up Jose,” said ProtectMarriage.com—Yes on 8 press secretary Chip White. “Clearly the man who attacked Jose is intolerant of those who support traditional marriage,” White added.
Ironically, Nunez, a native of Mexico, became an American citizen two months ago and plans to vote for the first time in November. Nunez, who is recovering and in good spirits, said the attack only strengthens his resolve to help ensure that Prop. 8 passes.
“The other side wants to intimidate us, but we can’t stop standing up for traditional marriage. I may be bloody and bruised, but I’m not giving up. Protecting traditional marriage is just too important for our kids,” said Nunez, the father of three children, ages 9, 5, and 3. “I don’t want my kids taught in public school that same sex-marriage is the same as traditional marriage,” Nunez added.
Nunez has been forced to take time off work to recover. It was not immediately clear how much Nunez will suffer in medical expenses and lost wages.
Anyone who is interested in contributing funds toward Nunez’s medical expenses or lost wages may contact the campaign at info@protectmarriage.com.
The campaign asks those who have been attacked, threatened, or had yard signs stolen to file a police report and to email the campaign."