"Writing the truth ™ as I see it; The truth as I see it trying not to ™ offend Idaho Common Sense those who will

disagree." Craig L. Bosley, MD The intolerant demand tolerance April 27, 2009

During the you disagree with either you are between right and wrong; pageant, judge Perez Hilton asked intolerant, hateful, sexist, methodically moving it just a tiny bit Miss California, , if all discriminatory, homophobic, bigoted, at a time so they can claim that any states should legalize same sex and the like. disagreement is intolerance, marriage. She responded that people Supporting Hilton, The prejudice, hateful, bigoted, and should have the right to live as they Huffington Post offered this definition lacking compassion. Excellent „poor choose but she personally believes of bigoted: “a person intolerantly me‟ tactics, even if untrue. marriage should be between a man devoted to his or her own opinions Those of us sitting on the and a woman. She lost the crown, and prejudices who regards or treats sidelines should be ashamed as we followed by a degrading, childish the members of a group with hatred silently watch Miss California show personal attack from Hilton. and intolerance.” The site concludes grace and dignity in the face of a What do we do when the that anyone who disagrees with gay massive character assault. intolerant demand tolerance? What marriage is obviously hateful, It is time to stand up and say, do we do when the hateful demand intolerant, and bigoted. “Enough.” Enough of the hateful understanding? This is exactly the Wait a minute. Doesn‟t this charges, enough of intolerance, behavior I was discussing last definition of bigoted better describe enough of „heterophobia.‟ It is time week; the people so vocally Hilton‟s treatment of Miss to demand tolerance and demanding tolerance are the people California? Isn‟t he the one who understanding from the intolerant and who are the most intolerant, the showed intolerance, prejudice, and bigoted supporters of abortion and gay people so vocally demanding hatred? Isn‟t he the bigot? Perhaps marriage. understanding are the people who are we need a new word in our We have a right to our values and most prejudiced. vocabulary - „heterophobic.‟ our opinions. We can vocally Miss California‟s only failure, Sadly, even one of California‟s disagree with abortion and gay daring to politely and honestly give pageant officials agreed with marriage, refusing to accept the her personal opinion which was Hilton. Shanna Moakler said Miss hateful labels thrown at us. contrary to the one Hilton obviously California failed “to convey We do not have to continue to endure demanded. She showed grace in a compassion for all the people that the intolerance of the enlightened difficult situation while Hilton Miss USA would represent.” progressives. showed hateful, prejudiced When did displaying compassion Thank you Miss behavior. also demand agreement and California. Thank you for showing us Gay marriage is one of the most support? Can‟t you show compassion how to politely offer a dissenting polarizing issues in society today, to someone with whom you opinion. Thank you for showing us employing tactics similar to those disagree? Moakler‟s claim is not only grace under fire. Thank you for used by abortion absurd, it also shows Moakler guilty showing us how to hold on to our supporters. Disagreement, no matter of exactly what she accuses Miss values no matter the cost. how polite, no matter how valid, is no California of doing. Moakler showed And to her bullies, “Enough is longer tolerated. You either agree a significant lack of compassion for enough.” with gay marriage and abortion or the undeserved treatment Miss face school yard bullying with taunts California received. Only one opinion and name calling. is allowed, only one view is The politically correct would have acceptable. Agree or else. us believe that any reasonable and The progressive, enlightened intelligent person obviously agrees people favoring abortion and gay with abortion and gay marriage. So, if marriage constantly move the line

Dr. Craig Bosley is an emergency physician practicing in Pocatello, Idaho. His column appears in the Idaho State Journal each Monday. If you would like to contact him directly, you can email him at [email protected] or visit his Website, www.craigbosley.com where all of his columns are available. © copyright, Craig L. Bosley, MD, 2009