Tolerance

There is a contagious thought in the world that different is bad. Black and white equals bad and good with no shades of gray. It’s my way or the highway. If you aren’t trim you aren’t attractive. Being Muslim is wrong because you aren’t Christian.  Or just the reverse being Christian is wrong because you aren’t Muslim.

I’m no philosopher, I’m not even that educated. One thing I do understand is the act of tolerance. Nobody likes to just be tolerated. It is the actions following the toleration that could make all the difference in the world.

Looking outside of your own selfish views and principles could open up a whole new realm of possibilities. Understanding there are differences and those differences don’t equal faults.

Understanding a person, culture, religion, nation or race is unnecessary. Nobody needs to be understood in order to be respected. Understanding is an over used idea when trying to promote equality for everyone. I don’t expect a devout Christian to understand why a devout Muslim prays they way and as often as they do. I do expect them to at the very least tolerate it.

I alluded to it earlier but the action of tolerance can open the door to many more things. Just tolerating something gives you the chance to step back, get away from any predisposition you may have. It gives you the chance to look at a person or culture or nation and actually see what they are doing, recognizing the good and not just seeing the difference and assuming the bad.

Tolerance, if truly tolerant, leads to respect. It is not impossible to respect something you don’t agree with. I don’t agree with a 3-2 defense, ever. Does that mean it is ineffective in all circumstances. No. Does that mean when used correctly I will not respect it? No. With that in mind, is there any reason for a Christian to be intolerant of a Muslim? The Christian may not agree but a Muslim obviously finds great joy and fulfillment in Islam.

If the Christian can tolerate Islam, then comes the respect, then comes the viewing of the positive things that Muslim person is accomplishing. At the risk of being redundant, then comes respect.

Biologist will argue biology is what makes the world go round. Economist will argue money is what makes the world go round. I will argue respect or even tolerance is what makes the world go round, especially if we want it to go around in a positive peaceful manner.

Respect from tolerance then can lead to love. Am I expecting everyone from every different background or ideology to love everyone else? Yes. Is it feasible? No. Is it possible for those people to tolerate or respect everyone else? Yes.

Taking steps back, understanding differences, not people, but the differences in those people will give anyone who values peace and harmony a better perspective.

There are many examples across the world today explaining the belief that different is wrong. Israel and Hamas. Al-Qaida and the United States. Whites and blacks (still). Christians and Muslims. Republicans and Democrats. I could go on and on. It isn’t possible to reverse this trend but it is possible to slow it down. Start with yourself, spread to others. Trust their values and principles. Just because they believe in what they believe in does not mean they are challenging what you believe. If that is the case, you need to be challenged.

There is no risk of redundancy anymore it has happened, no need to stop now. Tolerance leads to respect, respect leads to love and ultimately these lead to peace. Peace is something I think everyone can live with.