Intolerant of Tolerance

I hate the word "tolerance". No, it's not lost on me the irony of using "hate" to describe my feelings toward "tolerance." But despite the word being used as a positive attribute, something to aspire to, there is, hiding there beneath the surface, a level of hate. Dislike or disapproval at the very least.

We hear a lot about tolerance these days. Always in the context of how we view each other, react to each other, negotiate our lives in our neighborhoods, cities, states, country, globally. We're all here together, the same and different. What are we going to do about it? Accept? Reject? Tolerate?

To me, "tolerance" is just such a condescending word. Arrogant. It implies the right to judge, find distasteful or subpar, but allow anyway. Subpar? Distasteful? These are sentiments appropriate to a different kind of experience or a new flavor, but not to the core beliefs or lifestyles of other human beings.

Don't like chocolate {{gasp}}, pistachios {{double gasp}}, we have every right to decide to tolerate these flavors or avoid them.

Don't like Jews? Gays? Hispanics? Do we really think we have the right to decide whether or not we are "willing to allow"? Not so much. At least I hope not.

Cannoli Wontons

It's not enough to be tolerant. It's not enough to begrudgingly accept each other with an attitude of indulgence. We cannot just abide differences from the lofty stance of giving permission. It does not move humanity forward, it's actually insidious. It allows us to hide under the veil of complacency.

It would be wonderful if we could truly embrace each other, respect each other, learn from each other, utopian and idealistic as that may be. Clearly as a society we are clearly not there yet. Maybe never. Ultimately we must come to accept each others' inalienable right to breathe. Can we just start there? I'm disheartened to have to say that it seems to be coming down to just that. The future of our country depends on it. The future of our planet depends on it. Dire? Overly dramatic? I'm going to have to let you be the judge.

And yet, despite my distaste for both the word and the sentiment, given the direction in which I see our society currently heading, I would gratefully accept a climate of tolerance. 

Because the only thing worse is intolerance.

Cannoli Wontons

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Printable Recipe
 
Ingredients:
2 TBSP sugar
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 TBSP butter
24 wonton shells
1 1/2 cup ricotta
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
2 TBSP Egg Nog
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped unsalted pistachios

Directions:
*Grease two 12 cup muffin tins. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
*Mix together the 2 TBSP sugar and 1/4 tsp cinnamon and set aside. Melt the butter.
*Gently press the wonton shells into the muffin tin cups. Lightly brush the melted butter into the shells. Sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
*Bake for 8 minutes until the cups start to brown. Remove from oven, cool completely, remove cups from the pan. You can store these in a sealed container.
*Whisk together the ricotta, powdered sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and Egg Nog. Mix in the mini chocolate chips. Place into a pastry bag and refrigerate until ready to serve.
*To serve, pipe the filling evenly into the shells. Sprinkle with the chopped pistachios.