It’s a word that carries a heavy weight, isn't it? 'Bigot.' We hear it, we might even use it, but what does it truly mean to be a bigot? At its heart, it boils down to someone who is stubbornly, and often unreasonably, devoted to their own opinions and prejudices. Think of it as a closed door, firmly shut against anything that doesn't align with their pre-existing beliefs.
More specifically, a bigot is someone who regards or treats members of a particular group – be it a racial, ethnic, religious, or any other kind of group – with hatred and intolerance. It’s not just about disagreeing; it’s about an active, often unfair, dislike or even loathing directed at others simply because they belong to a different group. The reference material paints a clear picture: a bigot is a hater. They might hate Catholics, Jews, or any other group that falls outside their narrow worldview.
This obstinacy is key. It’s about an unwillingness to consider alternative perspectives, to learn, or to change one's mind, even when presented with evidence or reason. As one source puts it, you can tell a bigot, but you can't tell them much. This kind of narrow-mindedness can lead to significant harm, causing humiliations and indignities for those on the receiving end of such intolerance.
It’s important to distinguish this from simply having strong opinions or being a partisan. While a partisan might fiercely defend their side, a bigot often harbors a deep-seated, unreasonable prejudice. They might see anyone who doesn't share their exact beliefs as inherently wrong. This can manifest in various ways, from religious intolerance to homophobia, or even in more niche contexts, like someone who refuses to explore any technology beyond their preferred operating system or programming language – a sort of 'tech bigot,' if you will.
Ultimately, being a bigot isn't just about holding unpopular views; it's about the active, often aggressive, intolerance and hatred directed towards others based on their group identity. It’s a stance that closes off understanding and fosters division, and as one writer poignantly noted, it's no sin to be poor, but it is a sin to be a bigot.