My own conversations about race tend to be about inclusion and exclusion and then when I spoke with the fab Joy of GingaJoy she invited me to that panel where there was some serious deep talk of it. With that said, that’s part of the reason why I’m using “bloggers of color” to include Stefania and others. But shouldn’t I stretch that further? Shouldn’t it be about the lesbians and others who are marginalized? Certainly. I’ll take on what I can. I’m only one woman AND A TIRED ONE AT THAT.

Not really. I never sleep. I blink long once and then I’m good. HA.

Still. Hunting you down next time. Watch for it.

You’ve got me thinking about the group thing. In theory wouldn’t a “white woman group” be more inclusive than say a “Korean Mom Group”? The more specialized a group the more exclusive it would be. But, we both know that a “white womans only group” would be highly offensive. Why? Is it because of race, because white women for centuries have had a better standard of living than other women? Would it be equally offensive to start a “black womens only group?” Issues of race and entitlement are fascinating to me, I’ll be watching the comments!

Man, now you got me really wishing I had been there for the discussion!! BLOGHER ORGANIZERS TAKE NOTE: I vote for Scottsdale,AZ in January for Blogher ’08!!

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.

The reason I did this is because I agree with you. Everyone is intolerant of something. But the problem I believe is that people confuse being intolerant and being a bigot. Two very different things. I can have an opposing opinion about something you say (you being general here) and it’s simply my opinion. It doesn’t mean I’m going to hunt you down or look for ways to destroy or hurt you. Intolerance is an inability to accept someone’s differing opinion. I can disagree with someone about their opinion and still have respect for them. That would be tolerance. What happened to you and others because of religion, race, etc is bigotry. Even as I type the word it makes my skin crawl. Even though the word is defined in the dictionary as an intolerance for beliefs or opinions that differ from your own, it also said a COMPLETE and STUBBORN intolerance. Which I define as being willing to act in a hateful, harmful, and gross manner toward another person – directly or indirectly. And I think many will agree with me on that. Intolerance is merely the inability to respect someone’s differing opinion on something. Bigotry is that hate that was spread over the internet over differing religion.

Ok, that was long. Sorry. Man I wish I could have been there even just to sit in the back with pom-poms periodically doing cheers so you would know how fantastic I think you are!!!

“Tolerance” has been so elevated in our culture that, as it’s being used now ,it has come to mean something completely nonsensical and impossible. To tolerate something means, by definition, *that you disagree with or dislike it*,yet are respecting its right to exist. Agreeing with and liking everything is not tolerance, it is complete ambivelance , and is actually impossible–some things really are mutually exclusive, and there is such a thing as truth.

Just as a note for next year, I found the Unconference very, very good for being able to discuss issues with a group interactively and getting the chance to look everyone in the eye. Might be worth exploring the subject there next time.