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The entire bumper sticker read, “TRUTH not Tolerate!”
What a way to ruin my anticipated fantasy in chocolate. I reacted with "What?!" I had to read it again. I read it aloud this time as if that would make it more palatable. Teresa said, "What? What are you reading?"
"Can you believe we parked next to the person who put that obnoxious bumper sticker on their car?" I asked. "Truth not Tolerate! Humph! I wonder if we will be able to spot them!"
We walked into the restaurant and I found myself looking around as if my eyes would spot someone who "looked" like the owner of that car. I surveyed the patrons as we stood waiting for the hostess. I spotted people and mentally pointed them out to myself while thinking, "Yes, they look like someone who would think that."
As we were shown to our booth, I walked passed each table with Pink Panther- like savvy, just waiting for the smallest nuance of what I perceived would be the culpable facade. All the while, my rational self was saying, "What is the matter with you? Do you really think you can identify the culprit?"
Well, as you can easily guess, I couldn't discern the "bad vibes" I thought I might feel from the responsible party, but I still didn't give up. We sat down and I tried to tune into conversations occurring around us to see if I could pick up even the slightest hint of "bigoted verbiage." Still nothing. Okay, I thought, I'll just sit here and enjoy the atmosphere of Teresa and chocolate. After a few minutes, Teresa finally said, "Are you still thinking about that bumper sticker?" And in her best imitation of me she said, "Let it gooooooooooooo!"
"Ha, ha!" I thought, "Very funny!"
On the drive home I tried to process the whole bumper sticker experience. As I thought more about my reaction, I realized that, in fact, I agreed with what it said. I said it out loud, "TRUTH not Tolerate!" Teresa looked at me with those piercing blue eyes, "Oh no, not again." She said, hoping not to have to endure more discussion on this subject.
"Yes! I agree!" I exclaimed.
"You agree?!" she said.
"Yes, I agree! Hear me out. Listen to the words, truth not tolerate. For years the GLTB community has time-honored the word 'tolerate' as acceptable treatment for who we are. We deserve better! We are superior to a word that means, 'to put up with, to endure, to stomach.' We deserve to be treated as conventionally as heterosexuals. When we talk about our spouses, there shouldn't even be a blink of an eye! When we talk about getting married, there shouldn't be so much as a lifted eyebrow! When we interview for a job, we shouldn't have to wonder if we will be fired in the future because of who we love. People shouldn't have to tolerate us; people should embrace us as ordinary, usual, status quo, as just another 'joe/jane.' We shouldn't be considered the 'sore thumb' that sticks out and an annoyance that has to be put up with until it 'heals.' We are deserving of egalitarianism!"
Teresa said, "Wow. You got that from one bumper sticker? I'm glad I parked there so you would have something to write about." (She knows me too well!)
Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, "There comes a time when people get tired of being trampled by oppression. There comes a time when people get tired of being plunged into the abyss of exploitation and nagging injustice."
We have continued to endure nagging injustice because, I believe, we have bought into the institution of "tolerance." I have heard many people say, "I'd rather be tolerated than hated." I agree to some extent, but to tolerate is to hope that at sometime in the near future whomever you are tolerating will eventually go away. We are not going away!
Lest you believe that I am "preaching" in the wind, I am thoroughly convinced that Jesus stands for justice. Justice is a Christ cause. Isaiah 30:18b (NIV) says, "For Lord is a God of justice." Isaiah 61:8a (NIV) says, "For I, the Lord, love justice." Jesus says in Luke 11:42a (NIV) "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God."
So what do you think? Truth or tolerate? Should we tolerate being tolerated? Or should we push for truth? I choose TRUTH. Truth that we too are created in God's image and as such should be treated with the same dignity, respect, love and equality afforded to our heterosexual counterparts. God doesn't just tolerate us, God loves us and accepts us unconditionally, which is what we should expect from one another.
Rev. Denise Cordova is pastor of Light of the Soul Christian Ministries, which meets every Sunday @ 7:00 PM in Reno, NV. Denise is a Jesus activist in the gltb community and is proud to proclaim God’s love for all people. You may contact her at liteofthesoul@aol.com or (775) 323-2798.
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