I saw this idea in a book I'm reading (or maybe it was a magazine article), so don't let me look like I'm taking all of the credit. I can't recall exactly, and I believe I'm paraphrasing, so I'm not too concerned with the appearance of the theft of the phrase or idea. It just struck me as a fundamental truth.

As I re-read the string of text that brought this thought to mind, I was reminded of a speech in the movie American President wherein the President (Michael Douglas) is finally responding to a movie's worth of goading from his opponent. In a bit of his speech he says "lets see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours."

It's a common idea that approaches the "freedom is tolerance" idea. We need to tolerate and even celebrate the differences around us. The bit in the speech touches a on some ideas in opposition. We see them all of the time: doves and hawks, pro-life and pro-choice, pro-anything and anti-anything...

When each person can tolerate that another person has a different point of view, then we can start feeling and being free. Until then, as long as someone feels compelled to force their view on another, there's a suppression of freedom.

I'm not asking everyone to think the same or act the same or look the same. A painless example is that most people have a favorite color or author or time of the year. If it's a different answer than someone else gives, these differences don't usually lead to conflict, and joking and conversational banter aside, there's not really a wrong answer to these examples. I doubt any war has been started because of a difference in opinion regarding preferences in footwear.

I'm not advocating the escape of responsibility by any degree. We all have obligations, and while some of these obligations may seem oppressive (e.g., paying taxes), it is not the same thing.

I've got more thoughts on the subject, but my time is being demanded elsewhere.