What does TOLERANCE mean to YOU?

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Growing up in the West, one hears a lot about the value of tolerance, and for the vast majority of the people living in these countries, including here in the USA, tolerance is considered to be a basic value. Many consider it to be fundamental for making our society work. However disagreement often arises about what that means, and how far it should go. Lately, there have been tensions in America around potential harms caused by tolerating certain forms of speech. There are some who espouse limitations especially when it comes to perceived harm against marginalized groups and others who consider the right to voice their opinions in public without fear of being shamed or shunned as necessary to the idea of America itself. The very idea of Crossing Party Lines is based, in part, on tolerance of ideas, but sometimes we might ask if we should tolerate “bad ideas”, and in an evolving society, who gets to define what “bad” actually means?

Join us as we discuss this and other questions such as:

What does “tolerance” mean to you?
What does “free speech” mean to you?
Do you think Americans today are less free to talk about things publicly?
Have you or someone you know experienced any retaliation for sharing your/their ideas publicly? Conversely, have you reacted against another because of something they said?
Some say we should tolerate everything except intolerance and that tolerating intolerance is socially harmful. Do you agree or disagree?
What might be considered “hate speech” in many other countries is constitutionally protected in America. What are the effects, good or bad?
Do you believe “cancel culture” and “social silencing” exists? On the left? On the right? On both sides?
Should Social Media platforms limit speech?