It would also be nice if people didn’t historically gather together behind these opinions to collectively oppress - physically and legally (by pressuring legislatures or the legal system to have it their way) - those people with “different opinions”.
The sticking point with your approach is that opinions are not harmless “until” there is action. The is ALWAYS action when an opinion is expressed, whether by the one expressing it or others, whether the people acting claim that it’s in the name of the opinion or not, thought leads to action, always and forever.
Most bigotry has occurred when it was not a crime to commit it. Even today, a lot of bigotry has to be argued in the courts as the lines are not clearly drawn, or are constantly being challenged even when they are abundantly clear. If it’s our jobs as human beings to be strong, courageous, loving, forgiving, and tolerant, then we cannot stand idly by while people express “beliefs” of the exact opposite of all of those things, i.e. advocating the lesser status, demonizing, or the striping of rights from others. Advocating for the end of all advocating for the demonizing of others, striping their rights away, or calling them lesser, is the very definition you describe. Taking that to the extension of biblical allegory, wherein we all wait around like Jesus to be crucified in hopes that humanity will be redeemed by our sacrifice, is not pertinent to the real world as we understand it today, with all of its historical precedent. It’s martyrdom, but it’s not productive, it doesn’t save humanity but rather allows it to slide while the “reasonable” people are convinced they can’t take an active stand on anything without becoming the enemy.
Also, tone and word choice do not determine the danger or meaning of the thoughts expressed. These are just social cues that help to get particular reactions out of your listeners. It’s largely meaningless to the actual content, though.
People’s actions give us that right. If certain thoughts have historically and consistently led to oppression of others, and to this very day continue to do so, then we can correctly connect the thought with the oppression or attempted oppression. No one should wait for a physical attack to be proactive about what ability they allow others to wield in relation to their well being. No one should have to wait passively while they see if the courts will allow them to be equal human beings again THIS year. They should advocate that equality is not a belief - it is a RIGHT. If your belief is that equality can be determined through organized or personal beliefs, then those beliefs will be challenged on every front available, because the belief itself is a challenge to the concept of equality via law.
Mostly, though, if you share your beliefs with the people around you, they’ll all challenge you as they see fit. If you share those beliefs on a national platform, then the NATION gets to challenge you as they see fit. It’s proper and what is supposed to happen via free speech and equal rights.
