Every liberal has heard it before: You claim to be so accepting, but you don't accept my opinion. It's a staple phrase that is used by every single conservative in arguments against dissenting opinions. The problem is, I shouldn't have to respect your opinion if it disrespects an entire group of people.
When liberals say they are accepting of other people, they usually mean those who are marginalized in society: people of color, LGBT folks, those living in poverty, you get the gist. What they don't mean is people who don't accept people for who they are and how they come.
But they appreciate those marginalized people's differences, what about mine?!
Good question!
The fact of the matter here is that someone's skin color or sexual orientation is not a choice. It affects their everyday life in even the smallest of ways (thanks systemic oppression!) and there is no way out of it. You can't magically become white or straight. You, however, can choose to be Republican or Liberal. You can choose to accept people for everything they are, or you cannot. If you think gay people do not deserve the same rights as straight people, you are disrespecting an entire group of people, and I should never have to be okay with that. If you think black people are inferior to white people, that is racist, and I should not be forced to give credence to you. If you think women are second-class citizens, that is sexist, and I am never going to give up my fight with you about why you are wrong.
We are an ever-progressive society--and no, progressive society does not inherently mean a liberal society. If you choose to hate people because of what they cannot control, I should not, will not, cannot support you or your hateful opinions. You can claim intolerance as much as you want, I can't change how you view me, but I should not have to put up with your intolerant behavior and opinions to save face.
I understand opinions are just that: opinions. Everyone holds their own. But don't expect me to accept your flat-out intolerance for entire groups of people because you can't jump into the 21st century with the rest of us.
