At the masthead of this website for over 20 years now, has been the phrase expressed in the title. Every once in awhile I get a comment about it asking me to expand on this thought.
First of al, understand that tolerating everything is the easiest thing in the world to do. Consider a branch floating down a river. It extends no effort in its travels to get where it’s going. It makes no choices. It simply follows the current that it’s exposed to.
When we tolerate everything, we risk becoming indifferent to the issues and values that matter most to us. Many who pride themselves on being tolerant of everything, become so afraid of offending others or being seen as intolerant that they fail to take a stand when it is necessary. This can result in a lack of clarity and direction in our lives, leaving us feeling aimless and unfulfilled.
Furthermore, if we tolerate everything, we become complicit in actions or behaviors that go against our core values.
In contrast, unlike that Branch floating down the river, standing for something requires making choices and taking a stand, even if it means disagreeing with others or facing opposition. It requires a willingness to defend our beliefs and values, even in the face of adversity. By standing for something, we create a sense of purpose and direction in our lives, and we become more resilient in the face of challenges.
In short, while tolerance is an important value, it should not be taken to an extreme. Standing for something requires making choices and taking a stand, and it is through these actions that we can create a sense of purpose and direction in our lives, and the lives of those around us. It is people that stand for something that both create and reinforce our all important culture.
That we have failed to reinforce our cultural values is simple enough to confirm. All one has to do is read the headlines these last couple of years.
I suggest it’s time for us to get back to standing up for American values.
