Why is it so hard to just live and let live?

Ah, the age old question. I, too wish people could learn to tolerate and accept one another, to coexist. I am an atheist, and it saddens me when some religious people call me evil, etc. But it also saddens me when atheists call people of faith stupid or deluded. No reason to do that. The key is empathy. Instead of labeling people 'atheist' or 'conservative' or 'muslim' or 'black' or whatever, we need to instead see them, first and foremost, as fellow human beings. Talk to different people, listen to their story.