Tolerating Intolerance

To the Editor: 
I recently read a column written by Art Hall, wherein he was defending the fact that his paper had published an edition celebrating the Christian holy day known as Easter. There had been a few Spout Offs submitted that condemned the Herald for having done so. One cited the issue that some in the community may be offended by it and that a newspaper should not be so one-sided. Well, I must say to Mr. Hall, if I were you, I wouldn’t dignify such intolerant babbling by even responding to it. However, I know that you are a gentleman, and take such attacks in stride.
We are supposed to be tolerant of others and their faiths, etc. However, no one seems to be tolerant of Christianity. I am a reasonable person, to a point. I realize that many who read this will think otherwise and want to crucify me for my intolerance. To them, I say “get over it.” I am sick and tired of people telling me that I have to accept and tolerate anyone or anything regardless of how offensive it may be to me. You are offended by an expression of my faith, but I am supposed to embrace yours, even though the stated purpose of one such faith is to kill all infidels, and later states that infidels are anyone who is not a member of that faith. Well, I have a real problem with that. Excuse me; I’m not being tolerant or politically correct. Now ask me if I care. I don’t. I refuse to be tolerant of any person, political system, faith, etc., that believes it is their holy duty to commit genocide in the name of their deity. In this country you have every right to practice your faith and to express it freely, so do Christians. So why are they being attacked? If the owner of a newspaper chooses to publish an edition focusing on a holy day in his faith, he has every right to do so. I would imagine, however, that had he published an edition focusing on some pagan holiday, or some cult, he would not have been attacked or need to defend doing so to disgruntled readers.
So now that I have managed to torque off half of South Jersey, I will tell you, I believe I have only stated what the other half of South Jersey is thinking and feeling. So if you want to tear me apart or do an ISIS number on me, have at it. I really don’t care.
The same Constitution that gave you your rights, gives me mine. If you want freedom and acceptance, allow me mine. If you don’t want to see Jesus on the front page of the paper, get a different paper. It’s a free country; no one is making you read this one.
I commend Mr. Hall for his tolerance and his steadfast faith in the American way. He stands up for what he believes in. Too bad he has to suffer intolerance telling him to be tolerant of others.