Reflections on tolerance , intelligence and beauty

Tolerance
I find it really interesting how many people who claim themselves open-minded , sophisticated , cultured and well-read would use the word "tolerance" to justify socially unacceptable behavior or ideologies. They would claim themselves tolerant to different religious/spiritual views, to taboo topics, eccentric friends ,...etc and even preach the more reserved about tolerating and accepting others. Yet, these very "tolerant" people would not even remotely accept a conservative or religious person. A girl I know , to prove her so-called tolerance would always preach "Guys, you should always be more tolerant. Take things easier. The world is very diverse and we should learn to accept each other. For one, I learned to cope with things; I even lived with a gay flat-mate when I lived in the US and I have friends of all faiths." This same girl, when talking to me about my own brother would still say "I can't stand how those so called religious guys ,even though before they started practicing religion where so smart, immediately turn stupid upon practicing religion and insist on things like growing their beard or wearing the hijab". So she, for one, is tolerant to everything except her own culture. When will people like her learn that choice to practice any religion is a choice as much as it is a choice not to practice ?! And that deciding to follow what is culturally accepted is a choice as it is not to follow?! And I wonder, will there ever be a point in time will tolerant people learn to tolerate the intolerant!?

Super smart vs super hot
There was a public question on the radio "Would you rather be super hot or super smart?". Until a few days ago, I would have answered without hesitation, "super smart", because if you're smart enough, you'll either manage to look hot enough(for your own self esteem), or you wont care less how you (nor other people) look. However, in the past few days I've witnessed how many respectable ,intelligent ,sophisticated men are affected with beautiful women. No offense intended to anyone, but seriously, a hot chick is bound to have almost any man round her finger, even without her planning to. Even though I find it entertaining, it saddens me deep inside. I would have loved to think that intelligent men would choose brains over beauty but it seems that this was just a fairytale that I need to let go of. Having said that, I think I also need to face myself with the truth that: I do care what other people think and that I would love to feel attractive (at least every once in a while). And yes given a choice I'd rather be super hot in my next life, I mean, what have I accomplished with brains!

Now reflecting on that last sentence I just wrote, I think it would be really ironic (in a scary way) for someone to look at me in sarcasm and say ,"So you've been going through your life, ya 7aram, all that time thinking yourself as one with brains !"