Tolerating Intolerance (UPDATED X2)

[Natasha]

Tolerating Intolerance (UPDATED X2)

http://democrashield.com/2008/12/23/tolerating-intolerance-updated/
12/23/2008

I was going to write a post arguing that–contrary to what the Vice President-elect said–we shouldn't reach out to people (like Rick Warren) who hold discriminatory viewpoints.

But Richard Cohen got there first:

But what we do not "hold in common" is the dehumanization of homosexuals. What we do not hold in common is the belief that gays are perverts who have chosen their sexual orientation on some sort of whim. What we do not hold in common is the exaltation of ignorance that has led and will lead to discrimination and violence.

Finally, what we do not hold in common is the categorization of a civil rights issue — the rights of gays to be treated equally — as some sort of cranky cultural difference. For that we need moral leadership, which, on this occasion, Obama has failed to provide. For some people, that's nothing to celebrate.