Tolerance is something you show toward an annoying in-law. Something you show when you lack the energy to just tell an irritating individual to go away.
Following are just a few reasons why “tolerance” is not an appropriate response to the race relations issue.
Every Day We Get Exactly What We Ask For
The state of race and cross-cultural relations today – the persistence of age-old challenges, anxiety, misunderstanding and conflict all tell us that the understanding we seek is nowhere to be found in the “tolerance” we teach.Tolerance Neither Encourages Us to Understand Nor Accept One Another
Think about it: If you merely tolerate someone, are you inclined to have an interest in how they see the world? Would you be interested enough to explore their unique worldviews and the value that their culture or perspective can provide?Tolerance Does Not Encourage Us to Appreciate One Another’s Differences
Dictionary.com has one definition of tolerance as follows: the endurance of the presence or actions of objectionable persons, or of the expression of offensive opinions. In addition, most definitions regarding use of the word in medical contexts refer to a foreign agent introduced or imposed on the body and focus on the body’s resistance and ability to function despite it. These definitions speak for themselves. Only when we truly value the ways in which others can and do differ from ourselves, can our world open up to the curiosity, understanding and appreciation that eventually leads to peace.In No other Context is Tolerance a Good Thing!
Imagine telling your mother-in-law you are “tolerating” her. What do you imagine the result would be?So What Should We Aim For Then?
First, forget tolerance! Then, let’s commit to learning the skills that can enable us to truly communicate with one another, even when we agree to disagree about our different perspectives. Let’s engage in authentic dialogue, to more effectively manage conflict so that both parties come out better than before, to disassemble the stereotypes on which we’ve relied for way too long and that only serve to build walls between us, and let’s take ownership of our own individual role in either perpetuating the misunderstanding and conflict or in breaking it down. Let’s commit then, to understanding and “Appreciating Diversity.”The harmony of our planet, our work environments, our neighborhoods, and our collective future depends on it.