"Tolerance" my ass!

[Atticus]

I have previously posted on the subject of tolerance vs. intolerance---how in any such contest, if each side stuck to their avowed principles, INtolerance would always prevail.

Intolerance and its agents are out to DESTROY tolerance and its adherents. They are willing to shout us down, defeat us with "fixed" elections, slander us, trump up charges and selectively prosecute and imprison us---they are willing to stalk us down in our own church and shoot us in the face on a Sunday morning with our family present.

And, some of us, those who haven't thought it through, are willing to allow all of the above because we believe that is what we MUST do---in the name of tolerance. In my opinion---not my humble opinion, because I know I'm right---we must refuse to tolerate their intolerance of us if our tolerance is to survive.

The recent outbreak of what Rachel Maddow this evening called "Hooliganism", primarily at town hall forums of Democratic Congressmen and women, is no coincidence. Neither is it spontaneous or born of genuine constituent concerns. See, for example: http://thinkprogress.org/2009/07/31/recess-harassment-memo/ As Congressman Doggett of Texas mentioned on Hardball this evening, the shouters at his recent town hall meeting were not there to be heard. They were there to prevent him from being heard.

"Free Speech" is a pitiful strawman argument in attempting to excuse this anti-American thuggery. No one is foreclosing their right to be heard. But, we are worse than fools if we "tolerate" their obnoxious antics and allow ourselves to be driven from the arena of public discourse. They should be asked to quiet down. If they refuse, they should be asked to leave. If they refuse, they should be arrested for disorderly conduct.

Any of us would be happy to discuss issues with those who simply disagree with us. But, are we really required, by some politically correct notion of "tolerance", to try to outlast or out-shout a crowd of choreographed mouth-breathers ranting about "Kenyan birth certificates?"

I don't think we should.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. I'm humming "Memories," and dreaming of

Fuckface and how carefully picked his audiences were whenever the little slug ventured out of his shell.

Remember?

"Can it be that it was all so simple then,
or has time re-written every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again -
tell me, would we?
Could we?"

You're absolutely right about our side letting these twerps get away with their bad behavior (see how kind I'm being here?). It's time to make sure there are police in attendance, and when they start up, they should simply be removed, one by one, as all the protestors who ever made it into Fuckface's bubble were.

Free speech is not absolute, and they're not using their Constitutionally-guaranteed rights to it. They are, indeed, hooligans, and they are being rowdy, disruptive, intolerant, and abusive. This is not behavior that any of us would tolerate at our own dinner tables, so why should we tolerate it at public gatherings?

I am, honestly, appalled that they've gotten away with as much of it as they have so far. I hope today was the last time we have to see that bullshit working. I want them hauled out and cuffed and booked and tossed into the slammer. The same way the anti-war people got manhandled at the Republican convention a few years ago, remember?

I want the law enforced. I am a law-and-order Democrat, and I want our laws to be enforced so that we might have order in our public meetings. Good citizens are being kept from speaking by these loudmouth operatives who have nothing to offer but their raucous and unwelcome behavior - they stand for nothing except rudeness and intolerance and signify nothing except how bereft the GOPigs are of new ideas and civil exchanges.

Bring on the police, and we'll wait until they're all dragged out. I think a bit of applause wouldn't be out of order.......................

[dhpgetsit]

2. Their lack of manners can only usher in a breakdown of civilization.

There is a reason we were taught manners as a child. Civilization requires it. They are indeed violating the free speech rights of the speakers at these events with their talking (shouting actually) out of turn, and endless interruptions.

My grandmother would have spanked me for having such bad manners. What's wrong with these people? Are they just the product of a bad upbringing?

Take them behind the woodshed!

[MadMaddie]

3. Why are they not arresting these people for disturbing the peace?

When a congressman or government official is injured or worse?

[ColbertWatcher]

4. Other DUers came up with suggestions on how to handle them ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6205582&mesg_id=6205582