Intolerant of the Tolerant

Tolerance and Intolerance has become a watchword in our day and people are afraid to even make comments which will label them homophobic, racist, or prejudiced against a minority group of people. I am of the opinion that this has created great fear in our society. Once I was sitting in a college library looking toward the window. I was studying for a class in which the only books I could find were in that huge library. I had my purse in my lap and was startled to hear a sound behind me. Naturally I clutched my purse harder and turned around to see a dark skinned man behind me. He came up and scared me out of my wits and began yelling at me..."Do you always clutch your purse when you see a black man?" I could only stare at him because I was so startled and he left as fast as he came. I wondered about that incident and thought of what I would have said to him if he had given me half a chance. That's what happens in our day. We are not even given a chance to respond and are judged quickly if we belong to a majority group. If we have any differing opinion we are labeled racist, homophobic, or some other derogatory term. The judgement is swift and harsh. I rebel against such judgement because of this experience as I rebel against the opinions of people who will just not listen with reason. I believe that there is a lot of ignorance and I find it in unjust behavior such as this.