Tolerating Intolerance Can Be Intolerable
(The professor has just finished a lecture involving the vanara, a race of monkey-like semi-divine beings in an Indian religion. One student is frowning and clearly upset.)
Professor: “Ah, [student]? Do you have a question?”
Student: “I don’t know. Do people, like, actually believe in this stuff?”
Professor: “…What?”
Student: “I mean, it’s so ridiculous! People don’t actually believe this is real, right? So stupid.”
Professor: “Well, all right. You’re a Christian, aren’t you?”
Student: *proudly* “Yes, I am!”
Professor: “Do you interpret the Bible literally?”
Student: “Of course I do!”
Professor: “Well, there are plenty of things in the Bible that seem ridiculous or impossible as well, and yet you believe in those. I think it’s a little unfair to treat Hinduism — or Hindus — any differently.”
Student: “That’s completely different!”
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Have you ever served a bad customer who got what they deserved?
