60 - False Tolerance, False Unity

False Tolerance, False Unity
By Elizabeth Kristol

Pluralism requires tolerance. But a pluralistic society undermines its ability to deal with its most serious problems when differences are denied and tolerance is transformed into a false sense of unity. Yet, our political, social, and religious leaders do their best to convince us that differences among people are never profound and always reconcilable.

Children's books and television shows such as "Sesame Street" tell of the wonderful things boys and girls, rich and poor, white and Hispanic, have in common. Interfaith organizations such as the National Conference of Christians and Jews publish tracts aimed at persuading their flocks that the two religions are-the divinity of Jesus notwithstanding-remarkably similar. At home and in the workplace, men and women lie through their teeth, assuring themselves that they think of each other as non-gender-specific "people."

In politics, the language of tolerance is going strong. The Administration seems committed to a Gentle-speak of coalition- building and bipartisanship. Democrats and Republicans are exhorted to put aside differences-which is to say political philosophies that gave birth to the two-party system-and focus on common concerns like the ozone layer and how standing too close to power lines and toaster ovens can kill you.

The media do their bit for tolerance by enlightening Americans about the fact that their counterparts in the Soviet Union are living, breathing people who have sinus headaches, instinctively talk baby talk to small animals, and get old and die just the way we do.

This is faux tolerance, and in moments of crisis people won't fall for it.

The extraordinary reaction to the Supreme Court's decision that enables states to restrict abortions swiftly exposed the truth that differences among people persist, and run deep. "Defector" is a harsh epithet, yet that is the one hurled by one group of Democrats at fellow party members who supported the Republicanbacked capital gains tax reduction.

Jews and Roman Catholics, who for years had been cheerfully building wobbly bridges, suddenly rediscovered their animosity as they argued over the propriety of a convent on the site of the Auschwitz death camp. Residents of the ethnically mixed Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn

Elizabeth Kristol writes frequently on women's issues and lives in Washington, D.C. This present item is reprinted with permission from the op-ed feature, "Voices of the New Generation," The New York Times, Sept. 25, 1989. Copyright 1989 The New York Times, distributed by Special Feature/Syndication Sales.

61 - False Tolerance, False Unity

watched racial hatred shatter their community-and their assumption that racism is a thing of the past

. Perhaps intolerance would not boil over with such intensity if honest differences were allowed to simmer. A healthy pluralism may in fact be characterized by the mutual respect that arises from a simmering of conflicting viewpoints and diverse senses of identity. Yet, such an admission seems nothing less than a Herculean feat for many people, especially those who hold public office.

It is a peculiar quirk of life that the fundamental similarities that exist among individuals say the least about us. We derive our sense of identity and pride not from putting on our pants one leg at a time but from our lifelong investments in particular world views, philosophies, and beliefsand these are the qualities we hope others will respect and tolerate.

If the lessons of recent months teach us anything, it should be that we cannot achieve tolerance by glossing over profound differences among people. Our political and social leaders are misguided in favoring the expedient route of embracing similarity over the far more difficult task of enduring genuine differences.

True tolerance means looking differences squarely in the eye and admitting the appalling fact that when other people seem to differ from us, this is because they actually believe their view of the world to be true.

It is an occupational hazard of pluralism that we must live alongside people who differ from us. This gives rise to discomfort, displeasure, fear, and even anger. Civilization asks that, at such times, we refrain from drawing swords. It requires that we continue to draw distinctions.