Tolerance Is So Important To Us, We’ll Even Tolerate Intolerance*

*especially of Jews

By Western Europe

If there is one thing Europe has learned from its bloody history, it is the supreme value of tolerance. Centuries of near-constant warfare, fed by religion, ethnicity, politics, and competition finally grew so destructive that we have been forced to reassess our traditional biases, and rearrange our priorities. Tolerance is now our highest value as a civilization. It is so central to our ethos and identity, in fact, that we exhibit tolerance even to the violently intolerant. What better way to promote tolerance?

This welcome blossoming of tolerance in our society chiefly takes he form of allowing bigoted, misogynistic, hate-filled groups  to live undisturbed even when that bigotry, misogyny, and hate adversely affects others. It would be intolerant to assert government control in neighborhoods dominated by certain ethnicities; we therefore adopt police no-go zones, the better to avoid any appearance of intolerance for those communities’ way of life. It would be unacceptably intolerant to enforce laws against rape when that act is committed by immigrants from countries where oppression of women is simply part of the culture. Who are we, tolerant and enlightened, to judge others in that respect? It would be intolerant.

But perhaps the most important manifestation of our extreme tolerance is our acceptance of those who showcase their intolerance for Jews. We, of course, would never dream of directly saying or doing such things, since doing so would betray the spirit of tolerance for Jews that has made Europe so famous, historically. But far be it from us to foist our tolerance on those who do not tolerate Jews. It would be intolerant to force them to adopt our tolerant ways. We must therefore allow them to call for the deaths of Jews, to shoot them, burn synagogues, and deface Jewish graveyards. In the spirit of tolerance, we Europeans will accept even those extreme views and actions, for if we do not include those who do not think like us in our tolerance, what good, really, is that tolerance?

This phenomenon explains another: when Muslims in Europe (and increasingly in the US) attack non-Muslims, our first reaction is not to take steps to prevent a recurrence of the violence, but to worry about a backlash against Muslims. About Islamophobia. God forbid anyone be suspicious of Muslim migrants or immigrants killing people in the name if Islam! Tolerance, dear people. Tolerance.

Now, as for the unacceptable phenomenon of Jews seeking to live safely in the land of their forefathers….