“Tolerance is not just agreeing with one another or remaining indifferent in the face of injustice, but rather showing respect for the essential humanity in every person.” William Ury, Getting To Peace (New York: The Penguin Group, 1999), 127.
How do you treat other people? How do you think about other people when they are not around? Do you treat them as objects or a means to an end? I think these questions should be foundational when talking about tolerance. If you view a person or group as “those people” or as part of “that group” or connected with “that race or religion” you have already started down the path of dehumanization. Humans have names, wants, needs, dreams, wishes, desires, strengths, weaknesses and should be given human rights. What events or lessons have helped you develop tolerance or more tolerance?