Tolerance

I read something today that totally blew me away.  But the more I consider it, the more truth I see in the assertion.  “Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. [Karl Popper, "The Open Society and Its Enemies," 1962]
Tolerance seems to be big in this day and age.  And rightly so I reckon.  For me we all must have the right to choose our belief system as long as that right does not impinge upon the rights of another. 
Tolerance to me is a weird word.  I reckon no matter what, I need to be tolerant of people despite what I may consider the weirdness of the idea.  I do not believe that tolerance means submitting to any idea.  It is as the sentence above states. “Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance.”
It seems to me we are in danger of seeing the disappearance of tolerance.  We willingly accept a slogan rather than discussion.  Toyota have had the same slogan for close to 50 years. “Oh what a feeling.”  The Labour Party’s “it’s time” slogan was embraced. And we accept the views of someone who is an expert in one field, as being qualified to be believed when speaking in another field.  That for me is a biggy.  I was amazed at the people trotted out to speak about something recently who were famous in an unrelated field.  It almost seemed the fame earned elsewhere made them worthwhile spokespeople in another field.
For sure I think everyone’s opinion matters but an opinion is subjective only.  Opinions can be built on facts or otherwise. 
But for me the person matters more than the view.  People change.  I know I have.  What I held to once, I do not hold to now.  It is one of the reasons I am not quick to embrace the road someone takes.  I need to see the fruit of that system.  I need to see they stay with it.  Bandwagons for me are a fly by night thing.  They do not necessarily stand the test of time.  So often people sincerely believe something until the next thing comes along.
I personally do not want that for myself or those I am close to. It is like climbing the ladder of success only to find the ladder is against the wrong wall.  So much seems to be circular.  We are seeing that with clothing.  What was in in the 1960’s went out but is now in again.
In these matters I prefer a straight line to a circle.  I will hold to something that was true 1,000 years ago and is true today.  I will always be tolerant of people, but I believe being tolerant of all ideas, leads to the demise of tolerance.