Live and let live is a statement that is riddled with complexity.
Like most catch phrases it can mean something, butmost often, means
nothing at all.
The reason I think it is complex is that it is a statement that suggests
we be tolerant. Which is a good thing.
But to say "live and let live" also censors the other "living" person
and insulate the person saying it.
It is a converation stopper.
eg. "Hi. I'm a black lesbian." response: "Oh well, live and let live."
It says, subtextually, "Be what ever you want to be but don't tell me
about it. Don't challenge me, don't make me have a meaningful discourse
with you. While you're at it, would you politely fuck off?"
I equate tolerance with open mindedness, when I guess, they are really
not exactly the same.
Open mindedness is a virtue. Curiousity and respect for other people are
virtues. When one truly believes these and says Live! and Let! Live!
then is is a virtuous statement.
If you are saying it because you simply tolerate, to prevent the other
person from truly living- in your mind as an equal, comrade, fellow
human creature. Then you are a virian heretic.
Queer Nation has a slogan
Tolerance does not equal acceptance.
-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "We are all here on earth to help each other, but what the others are here for, God only knows."- W.H. Auden ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ken Pantheists http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/2446 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~