The Tolerance Paradox

Tolerate the intolerant?


When asked whether or not one is tolerant most would like to think they are, or at the very least portray that they are. When we were young we were taught that the U.S. is a "Melting Pot" and Canada was a "Salad Bowl" or something (the individual pieces of salad do not lose their flavour). A melting pot is where one is supposed to become like others, basically, and a salad bowl society dictates that you do not have to assimilate to the existing culture but rather keep one's culture from their place of origin. I have heard the term "Cultural Mosaic" as well but that seems like a forced made-up name thought up by some organization who sit around all day coming up with these types of terms so I will stick with "Salad Bowl".


But what happens when the culture that the person is from, is intolerant of other cultures? To illustrate this I will write a fictional story of a planet far away, that bears no resemblance to anything here on Earth.


Somewhere in a different galaxy there is a star called something resembling, in their language, The Sun. And around that star is a planet where anything goes. Aliens from all over the parsec (I have to be honest, I don't know what that is) flock to this planet to trade, cavort, drink and imbibe all sorts of illicit drugs (although on this planet they are not illicit, they might mess you up but they are not illicit).


It is also a cultural centre where artists, philosophers and free-thinkers congregate to share and learn without fear of reprisal or discrimination. Something your neighbour does may shock you but as long as it does not interfere with your disgusting habits it is ok.


One day a rocket ship arrives. It looks like a large cucumber only not green and more square with little bits hanging off. And off of this mighty craft flock an alien race who are looking for a place to call home. This planet, they agree, is lush, fertile and were it not for the locals, perfect! They decide that they will make a go of it and set up shop on a permanent basis.


They don't really care for drugs (in fact they deem them illicit), they don't like your art, and they most certainly don't like your disgusting habits. You see, they come from a culture that does not tolerate much of anything. My way or the highway kind of mentality (wherein highway means death). And as their population grows they gain more influence politically and they start to push for some action.


One day an innocent alien child (picture it) stumbles upon a pool party where all sorts of crazy shit is going on, involving powders, liquids and body parts fitting oddly with other body parts (don't picture it). This child happens to have a phone that takes pictures and takes a few snaps. In these photos the locals appear to be enjoying themselves but when the new alien culture gets wind of it and sees these photos, such a clamor is raised that the whole planet has to pay attention. Those powders and liquids are evil and those body parts have no business fitting with those body parts and all sorts of other comments about going to hell and whatnot.


The locals are somewhat confused by this. Firstly having no idea what Hell is (most thought it seemed like a grand place to visit) and secondly they feel that the only reason this new culture is here is because of their society tolerating alien cultures. Now this alien culture has arrived and is preaching that the local way of life is wrong and should be stopped. This is somewhat hypocritical, the locals chime in, you are only here on our lush, fertile planet because of tolerance yet here you stand preaching intolerance. Did you not come to this planet to enjoy our lovely open culture? No the reply came, we are only here because of the lushness and fertile-ness.


Now as I sit here reading/writing this I think to myself, that it seems pretty obvious. If I chose to move to this planet it would seem pretty selfish of me to only move there to take advantage of their resources and then comment negatively on their way of life and try to change it. I would only move to a planet whose belief system mirrored my own for the most part or could see myself adopting and I would embrace that culture.


Cultures (which are heavily influenced by religion) can only reside amicably within a tolerant society if their basic tenants do not include discrimination, sexism, racism and bigotry and therein lies the rub. Many cultures (maybe most) include some or all of the above. So to what level do we tolerate that intolerance?