Core vs. pit values

There's been much talk lately about American core values.  In particular,  the real (or maybe imagined) value of tolerance. This is an especially popular topic with the president.
I find this belief curious.  At the risk of stepping on readers' toes, I'm going to say that tolerance is not an American core value. Instead, it's a pit value. It's not a positive thing. Look at our relationship with "tolerance" over the years. We didn't tolerate the first black Americans very well--many of them ended up in slavery. Whites entering our country in later decades didn't fare much better. Remember "Irish need not apply"?
We don't always  tolerate people that live differently--whether it's money that separates us, religious beliefs,  even the way a family is comprised can result in intolerance. College kids need "safe spaces" to hunker down in their intolerance.
But I like tolerance.  I think it has potential.  No one is the same. We can let our differences make us strong,  or let them drag us into a pit.  I think many of us are in that pit right now, but it's not too late to climb out.

It starts here...

Well,  after 8 years of blogging on another page, I've decided to venture into new waters. This is it, and I hope you'll read my stuff and add your own voice, too, by commenting.  Thanks for stopping by!