I struggle with this too. It might be easier for me because I rarely seek a belief system that can apply to all situations. I'm not threatened by a paradox or contradiction and I don't think they negate an idea's validity. Allowing everyone freedom of religion and opinion without judgement sounds great in theory. But when you specifically look at certain opinions and cultures, society has to choose between tolerating hate and cultivating freedom and equality. An accepting stance on all belief systems sounds great in theory, but in practice, a line must be drawn to protect people. Opinions are just fine when they stay opinions, but they usually turn into actions. How can a free society deem it valid for someone to restrict another's freedom? How can we promote equality if we tolerate belief systems of inequality? To me, it's not a question of a hateful and peaceful opinion being equal or valid. It is a question of what we as a society are trying to cultivate. If you are trying to cultivate freedom and acceptance, you have to oppose hateful opinions and actions that are contrary to freedom and acceptance. It's a paradox, like many theories are when implemented in society. We live in this paradox because we constantly try to balance personal freedom with the common good.
What do equal and valid mean anyway? Pretty much everything can be considered equal or valid when viewed from the right perspective. Are peaceful and violent opinions equal? Sure they are, they are both opinions. How can their be inequalities in opinions, they are inherently equal in that they serve the same purpose. But are they valid? That really depends on the perspective. It seems you are looking at this from the perspective of what would benefit humanity and move us toward a more free and open society. In that case, the violent hateful opinions of killing every other race are not valid and they are not equal to the peaceful opinions. If you are viewing the matter from the perspective of what should we do to impose our culture on the rest of the world, then the opposite would be true. If you are 100% objective in these matters, everything is equal and valid, but nothing moves toward a greater goal, including yourself.
Incidentally, I disagree that one has a "right" to believe whatever they want to believe. We posess no natural rights at all, none whatsoever. When we form civilizations, we grant ourselves and others these rights. They don't actually exist unless we create and enforce them. Should we create the "right" to hate? Do you really feel that all opinions are equal and valid opinions? What about the opinion that leads to female circumcision or genocide? Are you honestly more concerned with judging and disrespecting these people that you are with stopping such atrocities? How do you individually and society in general benefit from these opinions? How are we harmed? Do people who harm others deserve respect and acceptance just because we want to feel good about ourselves for not being judgemental? It would be nice if we could pass out universal respect to all, but unfortunately that often leads to further abuse.
Now I agree that we should be more respectful and tolerant of other customs and perspective that we do not understand and that radically differ from the "norm." As a society, we definitely need to work on this so that taboo belief systems are granted equal rights, provided no one and our social fabric is not harmed. I want to be tolerant, open, and accepting of other people's viewpoints and cultures, but I have no desire to be tolerant of human rights abuse and hate. If it comes down to that choice, the common good should prevail, not an assumed right to a harmful opinion. It's a question of what kind of freedom is more important. Unfortunately, the right to abuse others is an instrinsic value in some cultures. As much as I feel everyone should have the right to believe what they want and practice these beliefs, I do not think this right should extend to harming other people and spreading hate. I do not think these belief systems should be tolerated, encouraged, accepted, or respected. Some opinions are not valid, they are hateful. They threaten real people because they shape actions. Respecting these beliefs and accepting them with open arms is foolish. You will not be given the same courtesy and society will not benefit from it. The only people that will are those who disrespect and abuse others. It may be equal and valid, but is it good for us, as a people?
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