tolerance and the lack thereof

I've thought about writing about this on and off for a while and haven't, but an article from Fox finally pushed me over the edge today.

This article is about a schoolteacher who got suspended from teaching because he wrote against gay marriage on Facebook. After reading the school district's reaction, I want to throw up in my pants.

Apparently, this is what the teacher wrote:

“I’m watching the news, eating dinner when the story about New York okaying same-sex unions came on and I almost threw up,” he wrote. “And now they showed two guys kissing after their announcement. If they want to call it a union, go ahead. But don’t insult a man and woman’s marriage by throwing it in the same cesspool of whatever. God will not be mocked. When did this sin become acceptable?” 

Three minutes later, Buell posted another comment: “By the way, if one doesn’t like the most recently posted opinion based on biblical principles and God’s laws, then go ahead and unfriend me. I’ll miss you like I miss my kidney stone from 1994. And I will never accept it because God will never accept it. Romans chapter one.” 

And because of this comment, he is suspended, with his job on the line. This just makes me so upset. Does anyone else feel like if you are not pro-gay, pro-gay marriage, you are labeled as a hater? That if you don't say, "oh it's okay, whatever you want, being gay is 100% great" that you are intolerant. That if you say, "That's not right" somehow you are a bigot and homophobe.

Beyond any discussion of the rightness or wrongness of homosexuality, let's consider our first amendment rights. We all get freedom of speech, period. Not freedom of speech only if we are supporting the radical societal movements. We get to have opinions. We get to say what we think. How many teachers would get suspended for making anti-Republican, anti-Christian, pro-atheist or pro-Obama remarks?  

There was an article in the June Ensign that discussed what tolerance really means. I loved it. Elder Porter reminds us: An extreme definition of tolerance is now widespread that implicitly or explicitly endorses the right of every person to choose their own morality, even their own “truth,” as though morality and truth were mere matters of personal preference. This extreme tolerance culminates in a refusal to recognize any fixed standards or draw moral distinctions of any kind. Few dare say no to the “almighty self” or suggest that some so-called “lifestyles” may be destructive, contrary to higher law, or simply wrong.

Tolerance means civility, treating others with decency and respect no matter their opinions or physical characteristics. It doesn't mean that no matter what someone does, I have to think that it is A-okay.

Guys, I am not afraid to say it. There is no such thing as moral relativity. Lying is bad. Stealing is bad. Helping people out is good. Gay marriage is not right. If you want to be gay, I will still be nice to you, we can be friends and I won't think that intrinsically you're a bad person (note: this is where I'm being tolerant), but I will still not say I think it is right. And if you are tolerant, you'll be nice to me and respect my opinions too.