I am being convinced that tolerance and power are
incompatible. Historically it appears that tolerance is the rallying cry of the
oppressed, it is the light that is shined on injustice, until apparently, the
oppressed become the oppressors, then the light that once illuminated now
blinds. This pendulum has gone back and forth throughout history, it knows no
political party, religious piety, or social economic status; it is human nature
to silence the opposition.
Can humanity learn from the past? It does not appear to be
the veracity of our species, perhaps this is why George Santayana said, “Those
who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Is there a way forward? There is, it is the path of
humility, but this path is not traveled very long, because the path of humility
is not the currency of humanity; power. Jesus modeled humility during His life
when he took the form of man, washed His disciples feet (as a response to them
arguing who would be the greatest), and ultimately dying on the cross.
Yes the path of humility is narrow because it splits power
and oppression, tolerance and bigotry, and love and hate. Perhaps this is why
Jesus said, “You must pick up your cross daily.” Because if we don’t, we are
condemned to repeat the past.
