PRISON OF IGNORANCE

Editor -- This is in response to the outrageous August 9 letter to the
editor from Bill Hedlund regarding ``The Cost of Tolerance.'' First of
all, liberals have certainly never ``advocated'' illegal drug use, nor
have they ``promoted'' uncontrolled sex, and for Mr. Hedlund to imply
that homosexuality leads to death is despicable.

Most of society's ills, from V.D., crack babies, poverty to pollution,
global warming and the death of species are due to ignorance,
prejudice, greed and intolerance. These are the cornerstones of the
philosophy of the religious right and other ultraconservatives. From
the beginning of human history, intolerance and greed have been
responsible for massive human misery and death and destruction of the
environment.

Unfortunately, bigots like Mr. Hedlund will always be with us. Bigotry
cannot be cured. Its very essence is the inability to recognize the
existence of any other point of view. It is impossible for the bigot
to escape from his narrow prison of ignorance. However, most of the
ills of society can be cured, given time, through education and the
teaching of tolerance. Meanwhile, we can only pray that people like
Mr. Hedlund are few.

1998 San Francisco Chronicle

Checked-by: Rich O'Grady