Letter to the editor: The left isn't very tolerant

I am always fascinated when I hear people speak or see writings about tolerance as exemplified by the op-ed “Pittsburgh can use the arts to fight intolerance” (Dec. 11, TribLive).

Tolerance in the conventional sense is a good thing. When I hear a car pass my house playing music I don’t like way too loud, I remember that I probably did the same thing when I was young, so I understand … and tolerate it.

However, as is the case with so many well-meaning concepts, the left has bastardized tolerance into an ugly mishmash of wokeism, identity politics and virtue signaling. So-called “progressives” have become the most intolerant people. Their definition of tolerance seems to be, “You believe what I believe or I will attempt to destroy you.”

Sure, being intolerant about genocide is easy (except apparently for Ivy League university presidents), but let’s see how understanding and tolerant Pittsburgh area artists and arts groups are about other issues.

How many of these people would accept that changing one’s gender is fine if you are an adult, but coercing children, adolescents and their parents into this permanent, life-altering decision needs much more scrutiny? Or that swimmer Riley Gaines is correct that biological females should not have to compete against biological males who changed their gender?

Numerous polls show the majority of Americans believe abortion up to a certain point is acceptable, but most cannot accept the far-left feminist standard of abortion on demand.

Tolerance is a double-edged sword, but, as usual, the left can’t see it.

A.J. Abate

Elizabeth