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First off, let me reiterate my personal details which are relative to this subject: 21-year-old, male, atheist, with strong morals and an understanding thought process who grew up in a small town where "tradition" had a firm grasp.
Now, having said that, allow me to begin.
I've lived in this world for close to 20 years now and I believe that is long enough to allow me to start giving my input as to what I think its problems are...hmmm...wait a minute...let me correct that...its PROBLEM IS...there, that's better.
The problem of which I speak is the lack of tolerance which we experience as member of our "complex" society on an everyday basis.
This problem is not one which has established a sudden presence recently, for its long-reaching effects can be seen in many instances throughout history, including (but not limited to): segregation of blacks in the confederacy before the establishment of equal right legislation, the genocide imposed upon the Jews during the Nazi rule over several European countries, the "enlightening" of Native Americans by American settlers, etc... In none of these, or other, situations has the intolerance for another persons beliefs, customs, or practices produced anything beyond a travesty of the victims lifestyle or a massive social disaster which led to more appalling and unethical events than those which the "offenders" were originally partaking in.
As a person of the aforementioned characteristics, I witness and am a victim of such intolerances on a daily basis. As a 19-year-old, I deal with people (in most cases, those older than me) criticizing me fro the views or beliefs I have relative to society's institutions and practices. These beliefs are based on the experiences which I have had as a person born in 1981, raised by MY parents, living with MY pleasures and problems. I am sure that I can assume I am the only one with said characteristics. Therefore, the conclusions I have reached on various issues are, more-than-likely, going to be different than the conclusions reached by another person on identical issues with a unidentical background. This difference is what makes us unique as individuals and adds the variety we have the pleasure of experiencing in our everyday activities. Granted, without this difference in views, there would be a lot less turmoil in the world, since we would all have virtually the same outlook on various issues, but we would also all have the same attitudes and actions in other respects. We would all know what a person was going to do before they did it, we would all want the same things from life, we would all have the same outlook on certain things which would become obsolete. This is definitely better. Unfortunately, it is also impossible.
Living in a small town has given me an overabundant sampling of what intolerance can do to a society. With a firm understanding of tradition stating what is and isn't to be done, significant variety is hard to find. People do things certain ways and look at things in certain lights because that's what they have been taught to do or because it is what everyone else does and they have a fear of separation from the group which they have been so gracefully allowed to flow along with through the problems in life. Even when we (as humans) are kids, we are taught about the importance of strength in numbers. this lesson carries on with us through life and this fear of separation (from which a few of the more outgoing are exempt) rules our lives. Loneliness is a feeling none of us want to have.
As an Atheist, I deal with the impending views of others on a fairly regular basis.
I will admit that some practices are maladaptive to our existence as humans and that they threaten the thin framework that is responsible for holding our society together, but these practices are followed by people who believe in them...it is therefore their choice to do what they wish with their life and risk facing the consequences. This is not something we (as bystanders) should criticize or try to correct. If someone were to impede on our beliefs, we would certainly not welcome them with open arms, so why would we expect others to?
The one thing that can be done to ensure an easier world to live in is to star and respect these differences between people and start accepting a person for who they are and understanding we are not all going to be the same because it is impossible.
After all, I believe Rodney King put it best when he said:
"Can't we all just get along?"
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