Monday, November 14, 2011

Tolerance - Equipped for Battle

Rhett Butler stands on the porch of an old Southern house in the famous movie, “Gone with the Wind” and says, “Frankly, my dear, I don't give a...”, and many are shocked that a person would be given permission to use such a word. Chewing gum in classrooms and running in the hallways were considered to be on the top five worst offenses in public schools, and there was a time when a lady was to wear a “Scarlet Letter” should she be involved in a certain impropriety. Such behavior was never accepted and society would never tolerate such behavior.



Today, however, the demarcation line for tolerance has been greatly moved. Many words and “unmentionables” have become mainstream, and if a show somehow neglects such usage, the show is deemed, “not funny”, “boring”, and “a waste of time.” Behaviors that were once only thought of as well behind closed doors are now paraded down the streets, and the blatant disregard for children who might be watching such activities is totally ignored. Thankfully there was a national outrage at the activities that are alleged at a certain university this past week. That alone shows that there is not total tolerance afforded.



An old manuscript says, “Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Now whether the reader believes in something called “sin” or not is not the matter of this discussion. Rather the emphasis should be on the reproached people because of degradation. The continual slide toward tolerating more and more activities according to this saying will be and is a reproach to “any” people. Before the line is moved further and further away from what used to not be tolerated, “No chewing gum in classrooms” those who move it must remember that they bring upon themselves reprimand that may result in never regaining that which was lost.



Until tomorrow...Why Say More?



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