"Tolerance" Test

Ok, here's a test for you.

Give the Reverend John Hagee a listen:


If you don't want to listen, Rightwingwatch has a synopsis:

On Sunday, John Hagee delivered a sermon to his congregation during which he raged against the supposed "War on Christmas" which he began by declaring that America was founded as, and still remains, a Christian nation. As such, if atheists and humanists don't like being wished a "Merry Christmas" ... well, they can just get out of the country.

Telling atheists to get out of America is one of Hagee's favorite pieces of advice, so it was no surprise to hear him declare it again during his Sunday sermon when he told any atheists listening that "if you pass a manger scene and someone is singing 'Joy To The World,' you can take your Walkman and stuff it into your ears, or you can call your lawyer, or you can just exercise your right to leave the country; planes are leaving every hour on the hour, get on one.

First the obvious.  The Reverend Hagee has every right to be as hateful and as ignorant as he chooses to be.  And all the people in that huge room with him have every right to be there and agree with hism as well.

His message is simple: America is a Christian Nation and so if there are any atheist citizens who don't like it, they should just leave.

How is it that if I were to question him (or anyone of his followers) on that message of intolerance delivered by a righteous man of the cloth, I'd be the one branded as intolerant?