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TOLERANCE Try Hard Not To Offend Unisex Heavy Cotton Tee

TOLERANCE Try Hard Not To Offend Unisex Heavy Cotton Tee

$ 18.00

I was raised in the 1960's and 70's with a deep respect and appreciation for the value of TOLERANCE, "the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with."  It's an essential value in a free society.  It does NOT mean approval, endorsement, recognition, or support.  You can tolerate the existence of something and still work to change it.  I get so discouraged seeing intolerant views all along the political spectrum.  Tolerance as a civic virtue should be encouraged for everyone.


I'm a queer, low income, Radical Faerie, working artist, activist, and community organizer.  I first heard the phrase "I try hard not to offend; I try harder not to be offended" when Dan Crenshaw was being interviewed on a news program after he had been mocked on SNL by Pete Davidson.  Dan Crenshaw was born the year I graduated high school, 1984. He is an American politician and former United States Navy SEAL officer serving in the United States House of Representatives for Texas's 2nd congressional district since 2019. He is a member of the Republican Party.  I'm a lover not a hater so I don't hate any human, but to say I have STRONGLY different views than this man would be a gross understatement.  I was profoundly moved by Mr. Crenshaw's  honest, compassionate, thoughtful, and humorous response to the "controversy."

The far right wants to melt the snowflakes and the far left wants to dox anyone who disagrees with an ever changing party line.  It makes me think of the line in the Andrea Gibson poem "Say Yes" where she says,
"This is...for the radical anarchist asking a republican to dance

cause what's the chance of everyone moving from right to left

if the only moves they see are NBC and CBS..."

Tolerance is essential to living together and to giving each other the space to be free.  We HAVE to model the ethical, moral, and spiritual values we want to see in society.  Even on a T-Shirt!  Especially on T-shirts! Wearing our values gives voice to them even when our mouths are silent. I am against canceling, blocking, and deleting people for ignorance.  Ignorance is a condition that deserves my sympathy and my efforts to alleviate it.  Social science shows us that shaming, blaming, and judging are ineffective ways to make humans change their behavior.  

I admire Dan Crenshaw, Pete Davidson, and SNL for how they handled this.  I'm making this T-shirt with what he said on it as the definition of tolerance because I want to promote those values.  And NO, I will not be giving that Republican, militarist, fascist enabling Congressman a cut for having made this saying popular.  He doesn't own these words or this phrase.  I will see to it that a significant portion of proceeds of T-shirt sales go to community development in the marginalized queer community here in Portland, Oregon.  Maybe I'll also put some money towards his opponent in this upcoming election.  I tolerate his existence as a member of Congress right now but I'll work to see them all defeated in November.  See how easy that was?  ;)

Available in 8 sizes and 9 fab colors!  This heavy cotton tee has the classic cotton look and feel. Casual elegance will make it an instant favorite in every's wardrobe.

Available in 8 sizes and 9 fab colors!  This heavy cotton tee has the classic cotton look and feel. Casual elegance will make it an instant favorite in every's wardrobe.

.: Classic fit
.: 100% Cotton (fibre content may vary for different colors)
.: Light fabric (5.3 oz/yd² (180 g/m²))
.: Tear away label
.: Runs true to size

S
M
L
XL
2XL
3XL
4XL
5XL
Width, in
18
20
21.97
23.98
25.99
28
30.04
31.97
Length, in
28.51
29.49
30.52
31.5
32.52
33.51
34.49
35.52
Sleeve length, in
7.25
7.76
8.23
8.75
9.26
9.77
10.24
10.75




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