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Tolerance is a virtue only when it is applied to a belief or practice that you do not agree with. I can't be considered tolerant because I condone people giving me money. Or if I let people, who agree with me, voice their opinions. There's no compassion or character in that.
I respect those who are tolerant of things that they don't agree with. However, I see a lot of hypocrisy from people who push their tolerance on others. Many times, they are "tolerant" of whatever they are already amicable with and then consider everything else ignorant. How many times have you heard "I'm intolerant of intolerance". It's a bunch of crap.
But, I actually wouldn't mind if they were supporting true tolerance. Tolerance, these days, seems to mean that I have to AGREE with whatever I'm tolerating. It's not enough that I don't care what anyone else does, now I have to embrace it in order not to be called a closeminded bigot. And yes, I do think it's hippie-ish and yes, I do think it's more of a liberal thing.
Tolerance, like free speech, is truly celebrated when it applies to something you disagree with or even revile.
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