Are there ever circumstances in which we should accept bigotry? What if we are the target?
Mike, in response to Three Grown Shamed by a 15-Year-Old Girl by Ged Gillmore:
I read a lot of right-wing blogs in an attempt to understand “the other side” and I’ve learned a lot doing that. One of the most important things is that there will always be bigots. There isn’t a combination of words that will change their mind. You can try your best, sure, but it’s not worth the fisticuffs. Recognise when you’re fighting something that will never change, and just move on. One of the best things my father ever taught me is to recognise the amount of energy that’s being expended, and to decide if it’s really worth it. Is it worth putting so much time and energy into this one particular battle, that you know you can’t win? I think not.
The author asks at the end, “Have I given up the fight? Do I think sometimes we have to accept bigotry? And if not, what should I have done?”
Comments welcome, but let’s be civil, shall we?
Photo: Justin Jensen/Flickr