After reading the comments on News24 posted by numerous people I have come to one simple and irrefutable conclusion, there is no tolerance left in society for differing views.
I am not opening a religious debate nor a racial debate here, as it is irrelevant of which religion or lack thereof you support, nor is the colour of your skin important. What is important is that peoples differences are respected and things which we don't agree with tolerated as long as they do not harm others.
I will use one simple example to illustrate my meaning, there have been a spate of pro-religious and and anti-religious posts on News24 of late, now one of the arguments put forward by the anti-religious establishment is that they don't want religious dogma being pushed on them, for example by influencing state laws, and the pro-religion side state that Gods laws are the law. Now to exercise tolerance a middle ground should be found lets take some basic religious laws:
1. You must not commit murder
2. You must not commit adultery
3. You must respect your parents
4. Do not steal
5. Do not lie
(Yes I know there are more)
These laws are no different to what should be expected from every human on the planet so how will they adversely affect an anti-religious persons life? Answer, they won't.
Same goes for different racial groups, if I decide I only want to mingle with a certain race that should be my right, does it make me racist? No of course not, when it becomes racist is when I try to subjugate another race and make them out to be less human.
While I might of lost the plot a bit and I am sure I have not articulated my point/idea as well as I should have, I do not pretend to be a great writer,I just could not sit idly by any longer and watch the intolerance in the world continue without at least trying to say something that might make some people more aware.
I am no fool and I know that we will not all get along nor will there ever be World Peace in the true sense of the word, but if everybody could just exercise some tolerance and accept that people will have different views and ideas, which is what makes this planet and the human race so amazing, then maybe we can start living our lives without constant fear and anger and just enjoy being alive.
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
