I'd like to tell you a story.

When I was a teenager in Southern California I didn't understand this story. I thought that tolerance was weakness, that opinions made character, that I was right and everyone else was wrong.

But as I get older I begin to notice my dad's words coming out of my mouth and I start to long for my father's tolerance. My dad is a man who can have a conversation with anyone. He defends views he doesn't agree with. He's a card carrying member of the ACLU.

And people flock to him.

People flock to him because he's open and caring and non-judgmental. And, in a word, tolerant.

-- Derek
2.22.96



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Words