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Tolerance is the ability to respect the differences between a person (or group) and others. These differences may be belief systems, ideologies, religion, social practices, race, or gender. Promoting tolerance is about understanding and co-existing with these differences without compromising positive values, or forcing them down the throat of others. Promoting tolerance is about diplomacy and respect, not single-mindedness. Tolerance cannot be promoted with the “either my way or the highway” attitude.
Understanding Differences
There are over six billion people in existence in the world, and almost every country can boast of having a population well over one million people. That being said, when continents, countries, states, tribes and sects are coupled, what results is a very diverse civilization, and a mass of very diverse people. For example, sociologically speaking, no two families are exactly alike, and no two persons within a family share exactly the same character, ideology, mindset, or behavior. When doing an expose on the not-so-great scenarios of family settings, these family members at the very least try to get along with each other (in most situations) mainly because providence or fate forces their need to be tolerant of each other – otherwise the family structure totally crumbles and each person goes their own separate way. As John Donne wrote, “No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.” As a result, to live in synergy and at least curtail insidious behavior amongst ourselves, the ability to understand the diversity between people can only be achieved through tolerance.
Respecting Diversity
Since inception, the world has advanced through the contributions of past generations, different cultures, different people and different ideologies. To be where we are today is not in absence of the strides that have been made in the past, through linear or parallel efforts (looking at it from the point of view of cultures, countries, and races). For any person or group to think they are better (or superior, intellectually or otherwise) than their other counterparts is only, unfortunately, a mark of silliness, arrogance, elitism, social and psychological disconnection. Over the span of history, different people have contributed to the advancement of the world at one point or the other - this is cyclical in nature at best. Groups dominating in any area now may not be the same group dominating in that area a couple of years down the road, hence the need for tolerance.
Unity, respect for each other, tolerance, and positive attitude portrayal are what foster relationship between any two people, groups, and/or cultures. When one group delineates from this even slightly, it may cause the other to react unfavorably. It is never the best option for two groups to fight amongst themselves – ironically not enough people are willing to take the road of diplomacy, which is in essence a display of tact inspired to some degree by tolerance.
Tolerance is a Journey
With the way society is set up, it would be almost naïve to think that the world can be a perfect place. It can be agreed that would be the optimal scenario. Luckily, the world is spotted with enough people who have the foresight to view perfection not only as a destination, but also as a journey. It is very much a journey because in order to get to the final destination, a person needs to have an idea of the direction he/she needs to be going. This is analogous to a person who knows his destination but doesn’t know how to get there, or someone who is on the right path, but doesn’t even know when she gets to the destination. Likewise, tolerance is a journey worth enjoying, because when that notion is understood, we can begin to enjoy the scenery, sights, and perspectives as we all travel together with the same goal in mind.
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