Philosopher Karl Popper wrote that the “paradox of tolerance” suggests that to maintain a tolerant society, one must be intolerant of intolerance itself. If a society allows unlimited tolerance, intolerant groups can exploit that freedom to gain power and destroy the very tolerance that allowed them to rise. For example, if a group openly promotes violence against a certain population, a truly tolerant society must suppress that group’s actions to protect the rights and safety of the population being targeted. Otherwise, the intolerant group’s ideology could spread unchecked and eventually lead to the destruction of the tolerant society.
The socioeconomically dominant class (the oppressors, the rich, the capital owning class, political demagogues) can use forgiveness as a tool to avoid justice by framing it as a moral duty for those who have had injustice done unto them (the oppressed, the poor, the working class, the politically uninformed). This is a subtle yet powerful form of control. Instead of taking responsibility for their harmful actions, the dominant class places the burden of reconciliation on the victims. They might say, “You need to forgive and forget to heal” or “Moving on is the right thing to do.” This narrative serves to silence dissent and prevent the oppressed from demanding justice or reparations. It shifts the focus from the systemic injustices caused by the dominant class to the emotional state of the oppressed. This can make the oppressed feel guilty for holding onto their pain and anger, which in turn reinforces the power imbalance.
The paradox of tolerance and the use of forgiveness as a tool of oppression and avoiding justice are connected. They both highlight how certain societal principles can be twisted to serve the interests of a powerful group. In the context of oppression, the dominant class essentially asks the oppressed to practice an unlimited and self-destructive form of tolerance. They demand that the oppressed “tolerate” or forgive the ongoing intolerance, injustice, and harm inflicted upon them. This demand is a direct application of the paradox of tolerance but with a cruel twist. The dominant class exploits the very idea of tolerance to maintain its oppressive structures. They are the intolerant force, yet they demand that their victims “tolerate” their actions in the name of peace or social harmony.
Forgiveness in this context can be seen as a form of social control. The powerful group uses psychological manipulation to maintain the status quo. The oppressed are conditioned to believe that their refusal to forgive is a personal failing rather than a valid response to injustice. This dynamic is a positive feedback loop. The more the oppressed are told to forgive, the more their oppressors are emboldened to continue their harmful behavior. This reinforces the power structure, making it a stable and unjust system of harm. Tolerance is not a moral standard to be applied to all, but instead a social contract that you opt into by being tolerant, and once violated by being intolerant, you are no longer covered by. Change requires breaking this cycle by challenging the demand for forgiveness and instead demanding justice and accountability for all.

Sincerely,

College Democrats

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Editor’s Note:

This issue includes two guest columns: one from the College Democrats organization in response to flyers posted around the campus by the College Republicans and another guest column from faculty member and College Republicans adviser, Michael Pecherek, which includes the ideas of the posted flyer that the College Democrats are responding to.
The guest columns reflect the opinions of the groups/persons who have signed them. They do not reflect the opinions of the newspaper editorial staff, the college or its administration.
IV Leader encourages letters to the editor to discuss community issues.