So? What's wrong with intolerance every once in a while?
Nothing. that's why I'm tolerant of racists.
I just have a personal value regarding tolerance. If someone were to confide in me that they had racist views, I wouldn't judge them for it. I would seek to find out why they hold those views and then work with them to find out if they want to change those views.
But racism is based on ignorance. Should we be tolerant of ignorance, or try to educate those who don't know?
If they aren't taking actions based on their racism, the only way I could know about their views is if they simply stated them with no other goal except to share the information.
For example: Someone could make the statement "I think X race is inferior to Y race". that in and of itself is in no way offensive to me. It's just a statement of their beliefs.
To me, it is identical to saying "I think pizza from local restaurants is inferior to Pizza Hut Pizza".
Its an opinion statement. I may disagree with someone about the pizza, but I would not be
intolerant of them. I would share my own opinions in teh hopes that they might change theirs of their own volition, but I would not forcefully "educate" them.
But if someone said "Pizza Hut is the superior pizza, and all other pizza places should be closed down" they are now arguing that specific
actions should be taken because of their belief which I disagree with. That is when it ceases to be just a belief, and starts to become an oppressive behavior.
I do not tolerate those behaviors.
Even in myself (especially within myself, perhaps).
If I say something like "Racists are ignorant, and they need to be educated" I'm
engaging in the very same oppressive behaviors which I reject.
If the first example, where beliefs are shared without oppressive actions being advocated, I am in a sharing relationship with the person in question. I am not judging them as a person for their beliefs.
In the second situation, where oppressive actions are being advocated, I am judging the
behaviors of the person as intolerable. In order to remain internally consistent, I must take the same stance regarding my own behaviors.
This is simply my worldview. I neither expect nor require others to conform to it. I welcome a rejection of my principles from others. I don't think everyone should be confined to my own choices.