How tolerant are you?

I've never lived with much diversity,
the heartland, white boy that
I am.

Outside Chicago introduced
a little,
and I had no struggle.

Maybe I was too
ashamed
of my own problems
to think i was bettan
than anyone else.

So I carry "tolerance" as
many do this day: a political badge.
Many of those don't tolerate
Republicans, who don't tolerate
Muslims or immigrants,
or voters....

But in the crowded market, I enjoy
the thick stream of races,
the sellers, buyers,
even a little rudeness.

But the flash of anger that
threatened violence
to my partner:

I lost all tolerance in that instant.

But the moment passed, so did the man
who never realized I was his danger.
I felt the adrenaline rush
of instinct,
but not hatred, or arrogance.

I may someday share a beer with
that man and never
know it. We might
laugh together.

Skin color just tells me that the
tapestry of life
is wonderous,
and that our human choice of
violence and anger
is not restricted to any
race.

I can  bear human foibles, and
love their differences, even wish
that more of those distinctions
colored my own life.

Certianly no one is less than me,
and love is greater,
so I hope I live in this lesson
during this time of
man made fear.