Have we moved from 'tolerance' to acceptance?

[trof]

Since we're reflecting on life's questions today...

Back in the beginnings of the civil rights movement many well intended folks preached 'tolerance' of others.

You could learn to tolerate a lot of things.
Like 'integrated' schools and public transportation.

"OK, I can tolerate it if a Negro sits next to me on the bus. That's not an unreasonable demand."

But to tolerate something isn't really to accept it as the norm.
It's something you can 'put up with', but you just as soon not have to.

Acceptance comes when you no longer care or notice.
You don't really notice that the person next to you is black or white.
You just notice that the seat is either not occupied, or it is.
:-)

[MannyGoldstein]

1. Yes

About a week before our gubernatorial election I was listening to the radio - they mentioned that, if Deval Patrick were elected, he'd be the first or second black person to hold that post in US history.

It struck me that:
1. I hadn't thought about him being black before that point in time
2. I didn't recall anybody mentioning that he was black up until that moment.

Yes, this is Massachusetts - but even here, things would have been quite different a decade or two ago.

[BlooInBloo]

2. I ask how many white folks would be perfectly comfortable with a black man dating their daughter...

... (Answer: few)

No acceptance for black folks.

And it of course remains hilarious that white folks get to judge whether or not we're tolerant. It's predictable that essentially every answer but mine will be "oh yah! Perfectly accepted! No problem in my sight!"

:rofl: