What Is The Art Of Tolerance?

  Like many of you, I love America, I can honestly say, there is no other place in the world, I'd rather live. America is a free country where we as a people, are free to express our views openly,  without fear of government oppression. I would submit to you however, that this basic freedom is under attack.I have began, to notice particularly,  in this country. I ask  myself, why is it,  a person with a traditional conservative political view,  is often, thought to be old fashioned, or out of step with the more liberal progressive way of thinking. You may be surprised to learn at least, in my case,  their are some points of liberal thought I can agree with. Famous, french historian and philosopher Francois Marie Arouet Voltaire. is said to be a person whose ideas helped to shape the Age of Enlightenment. In Voltaire's Essay on Tolerance, the essence of true tolerance is often expressed with these words.  History is not clear, whether Voltaire,  actually said these exact, words but they are often attributed to him and the are the essence of his famous Essay on Tolerance they are quoted as follows, 'I disapprove of what you say  but, I will defend to the death your right to say it.' As you study history, you will find that many of Voltaire's idea's live on to today. Voltaire, was a believer in civil liberties, so am I. Voltaire,  believed in the separation of church and state. where have I heard that before? Well, to be totally accurate, the idea, of separation of church and state is certainly expressed, in the Constitution of the United States, that phase however, is actually, found, not in the Constitution of the United States but rather,  in article, 124 of the Constitution of the Union of Soviet, Socialist Republics. That's right, you will find these words in the Russian Constitution first adopted in 1918 later revised in 1936  and this phase, in article 124 was retained and to my knowledge, is still found there today.Apparently, Russia was also influenced by Voltaire's Essay on Tolerance. Russia's idea of the state is different then, what the founding fathers referred to,  in the United States Constitution. What the founding fathers meant, was simply this,  Congress was not  to seek,  to establish a state church like the Church of England had been. Americans decided, . they would be tolerant and allow each person to practice their own faith and establish their own church as they saw fit this then,  is the essence, of true tolerance.
  yes, I believe in tolerance, as long as those with a liberal political point of view,  allow political conservatives,  the  same basic freedoms,  I may not agree,  with much,  of the liberal world view,  but I freely,  acknowledge,  their right both to have,  and freely express,  that view. All I would ask, as a conservative,  is for those who are liberal,  to tolerate of my point of view. From a moral perspective, I share this traditional view regarding,  what formed,   the foundation of America's greatness. French Historian, and Political Scientist, Alexis de  Tocqueville,  visited America in the 1830's and he summed up America's greatness, with this now, famous quote 'America is great, because America, is good. If America, ceases to be good , she will cease to be great.'
  This is still true about America today, Yes, I know we must exercise, tolerance, and allow the free expression  of different ideas,  even if  we don't always agree with them. I understand, that most liberals,  in general,  form their world view,  based on human reason, accepted science,  and basically, a Humanistic philosophy.They have the right to do that, and they have the right,  to express their ideas freely. It seems,  however, that often times they  act as though,  this freedom,  applies only to the liberal point of view. All I would ask for as a Christian, with conservative political values, who still believes there is a God in the universe, and belief in that God  did and still does,  shape,  the future of America, the right,  to believe this and express this belief, for this is the essence, of true tolerance. As always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just,  some words,  to think on.