Philosphia

I was reading in the Ensign magazine this morning, a rather long article about the family and it's importance in society and in the Church. As I read I found a section on tolerance.
Now, it seems to me (and obviously to the author of the article) that the definition of tolerance has changed recently. It used to be a civil respect of other persons for their belief, race, or other such thing. Now it seems that it is entirely blurring the lines of right and wrong, that being tolerant means that you must not only accept of another's belief/disbelief/sexuality/opinions/arguments/etc, but you must also defend them, fight for them, even if they are not your own. Now, I am a tolerant person. I believe that if you want to believe something, go right ahead. Just let me believe what I want as well. I belong to what used to be the majority and in many places still is - Caucasian, christian, heterosexual, you get it. But that doesn't mean I look down on anyone who is otherwise.

As I read the article in question, something written stuck out to me. "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 matters of personal preference."

This reminded me of a song I know and love by an Irish band known as The Guggenheim Grotto. I remember showing this song to my brother Paul after he got back from his LDS mission, and he pointed out to me how it reminded him of exactly what I am talking about now. The lyric goes like this "But in time a thought comes tugging on the sleeve edge of our minds/Perhaps no perfect way exists at all, just many different kinds/Oh but if it's just a thing of taste then everything unwinds/For without an absolute how can the absolute define/A work of art"

How can we define what is good and true when we keep blurring the lines and making concessions to all and sundry who are demanding things that are not necessarily their right?

What's wrong with having opinions that Differ? That doesn't mean we have to change the world to fit them. It just means we differ in opinion. In the words of my brother Ben (I have no idea where he came up with this), we have the right to be offended. It's okay to think differently, it's good even! So go on and be different, but that doesn't mean you have to try and change my opinion to fit yours inside .It doesn't work that way.

Lyrics - Philosophia by The Guggenheim Grotto

When we're young we set our hearts upon some beautiful idea
Maybe something from a holy book or French philosophia
Upon the thoughts of better men than us we swear by and decree a
Perfect way to end the war of ways, the only way to be a

Work of art Oh to be a work of art

But in time a thought comes tugging on the sleeve edge of our minds
Perhaps no perfect way exists at all, just many different kinds
Oh but if it's just a thing of taste then everything unwinds
For without an absolute how can the absolute define

A work of art Oh to be a work of art

When we're young we set our hearts upon some beautiful idea
Maybe something from a holy book or French philosphia