Are We a Nation of Bigots?



What is a bigot? a person who is utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion.

What is bigotry? 1. Stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.
2. The actions, beliefs, prejudices, etc., of a bigot.

What is tolerance? 1. A fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one's own; freedom from bigotry.
2. A fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions and practices that differ from one's own.
3. Interest in and concern for ideas, opinions, practices, etc., foreign to one's own; a liberal, undogmatic viewpoint.



Is it fair to say a person who is not tolerant is a bigot?

Bigot is a powerful word that nobody wants to be associated with. If you where to call someone on the street a bigot surely you would get a punch in the nose. My question is this: How can you be intolerant and not be a bigot?

We live in a country that supports religious freedom. This is a good thing. I support this value. We created this new world because we where tired of being told what we should believe and how we should live. We are the land of the free and the home of the brave. Countless men and women die everyday fighting for our great nation and the foundation on which it stands. Freedom from oppression is what we fight for. Our constitution says “We the people in order to form a more perfect union.” We the people: meaning every person of the United States of America. There is no fine print for exclusion.

If I don’t agree with your religious values I don’t go to your church. It’s that simple, I am not a member of your congregation. I am proud that I live in a country where I have that choice. When you come knocking on my door I politely explain that I do not share in your religious values but I support your right to have them. If America is truly this great melting pot that embraces diversity how am I as a gay woman excluded? Never once have I gone door to door trying to recruit people into the “church of gay.” Never once have I stood on your doorstep calling you an abomination or confirmed your reservation for the honeymoon sweet in hell. I am tolerant of your beliefs. I just don’t want them for myself and my family.

I believe America has a crack in its foundation and this crack is intolerance. We live in a government that is no longer willing to fight for individual freedom. It is far easier to pass that responsibility on to individual states. If an adult couldn’t make a responsible decision surely they wouldn’t pass the decision making onto the child.

Its time to step up America and prove to the world that we are not a nation of bigots and that everyone regardless of race, religion, or sexual orientation is entitled to the American Dream. Remember United we stand, divided we fall. Let’s make sure that everyone in the United States of America is given equal protection under the law.



-Louise (Weezer) Kent
The Cooter Café Cast

I value your opinion good or bad. You can send your comments to: Thecootercafe@gmail.com