America, It's Time For Intolerance

Humanity and democracy demand that we take a side

For years I've preached tolerance.

I’ve lauded its virtues.

I’ve affirmed its value.

I believe in it, in its place and time.

I also know that tolerance can be dangerous in a place and a time like this.

We all know how we got here.

We've all lived through the past eight years.
We saw the "both sides" rhetoric in Charlottesville.
We saw the George Floyd murder.
We saw the violence against the BLM protests.
We saw the support for Kyle Rittenhouse.
We saw the conspiratorial pandemic denials.
We saw the anti-mask defiance.
We saw the legislative attacks during the election.
We saw the terrorism at the Capitol.
We saw the lack of response by the Government.
We’ve seen the doubling down in support of a four-times indicted, traitorous predator.
We can't apologize for seeing it and we can't be gaslit into thinking that we didn't see it and we can't be guilted into forgetting that we saw it.

The divides here in this country are not arbitrary and they are not meritless.
They are not merely products of media manipulation or exaggerated differences.
They exist for a reason.

They are here because some of us simply refuse to tolerate racism and insurrection
and the systematic extermination of diversity here, and we need to remember
that.

These divides are not the symptoms of blind tribalism, but of our shared decency rejecting something so very indecent. We need to stop talking about bipartisanism and tolerance in America and start talking about humanity and democracy before it's too late.

In years since the dawn of the MAGA movement, those of us opposing it have received a similar scolding from Conservatives as we seek to engage in substantive debate on the issues. It's an attempt to call us out for our alleged hypocrisy:

"I see, you're all for diversity unless someone disagrees with you! Apparently we don't get included in that! You Liberals are so tolerant!" they say. "You seem pretty intolerant to me."

Well, they're partially right. 

The commitment to diversity and equality means demanding that everyone gets a seat at the table: that each person's inherent worth is recognized there, that no one is devalued or excluded based on a fixed and fundamental part of their identity: skin color, gender, nation of origin, sexual orientation, religion, etc.

This means that we declare every human being equally valuable. It does not mean we treat all behavior or all opinions equally.

The idea of bipartisanship suggests that there are two very different but equally
valid sides represented at a given moment.

This is inaccurate in this version of America.

Knowingly perpetuating a dangerous lie of election fraud, is not a valid side.
Fighting a thorough, objective examination of a violent attack on Congress
intended to overturn an election, is not a valid side.
Legislatively cancelling the votes of people of color is not a valid side.
Justifying the murder of unarmed people of color by law enforcement, is not a
valid side.
Voting unanimously against COVID aid while opposing masks and vaccines in the wake of 500,000 deaths, is not a valid side.
Taking away the rights of women to have autonomy over their own bodies, is not a valid side.
Demanding that teachers no longer teach about racism in America, is not a valid
side.

Elevating such positions by implying that they deserve an equal seat at the table is simply reckless. To claim a desire to work with the violent lunacy of Marjorie Taylor Greene or the nonsensical, ignorant gun lust of Lauren Boebert or the unabashed sedition of Josh Hawley or the blind obstructionism of Mitch McConnell—is at best disingenuous and at worst, moral complicity. Throughout our history there have been moments when unequivocal stands against an existential threat need to be made.

That's where America is right now.

Active discrimination and violence don't get a seat at the table. They don't get proximity to do further damage to people. We cannot and we won't sacrifice marginalized human beings on the altar of ceremonial diversity or decorative tolerance.

There are no false equivalencies to be made here at this place and time in the
history of this nation. This abomination of a political party still in the grip of a traitorous sexual predator is now nothing more than a cult of cruelty whose sole platform is appeasing, pleasing, and defending a wannabe despot. To elevate them to something worthy of partnership is political treason and theological heresy.

To entertain conspiracy or abide terrorism or enable bigotry in the name of some ceremonial both sides-ism makes a mockery of the costly battles so many vulnerable communities have fought before us, in order to make this a place where blind nationalism does not rule the day and where a minority of extremists cannot have their way.

This is so much bigger than politics.

I don't care about bipartisanship or tolerance, I care about protecting humanity.

If the fight for that humanity places me on one side of a partisan political line or brings accusations of intolerance, that likely points to the inhumanity on the
other side of it.

I will not partner with terrorism and I refuse to make peace with white supremacy and I will not cooperate with fascists.

I'm not apologizing for that and neither should the rest of us.

In the name of humanity, it’s time for intolerance.