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Showing tolerance does not indicate acceptance
Words are funny things. They are often misunderstood or misinterpreted. Take the word "tolerance". It is often taken to mean "acceptance". But tolerance does not mean acceptance.
I may have tolerance for some one else's opinion. It does not mean I accept it. Perhaps this is the problem today. Canadians, with our acceptance of the many facets of multiculturalism, are deemed to be a tolerant people. Some people don't realize tolerating another's viewpoint does not mean you accept that viewpoint.
Voltaire had it right when he said, "I disapprove of what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Now that's showing tolerance but not acceptance.
I well recall the principal of the high school I attended saying, "I will not tolerate unruly behaviour in the school yard." (Of course being young, foolhardy, adventuresome and too often unaware and thus uncaring of consequences, we then set out to determine what behaviour he would tolerate. It was quickly found out that he would not tolerate foul, profane language or lewd behaviour. Nor would he tolerate bullying or ganging up.)
He showed tolerance towards fist fights and wrestling bouts as long as the participants seemed equally matched in size and skill. Oh eventually he would take action to stop the fighting if it looked like one or other of the combatants was in danger of getting hurt.
You must understand that my high school was an all boys' school. Not a private school for the privileged you understand just all boys. The equivalent girl's high school was just up the block.
In my school the principal had a tolerant "boys-will-be-boys" philosophy but only up to a point. He wouldn't tolerate us mooning the girl students as they passed our school. But he would tolerate us wolf whistling at the girls probably because he couldn't identify the whistler and none of us would "peach" on the whistler. Us boys did not tolerate tattle telling.
Trouble starts when tolerance is mistaken for acceptance. We can show tolerance for another's beliefs and practices. This does not mean we accept those beliefs or those practices or practice them ourselves.
What we will not tolerate is beliefs or practices that inflict harm or hurt on others, or that deny freedom or dignity to any.
All of this brings us to situations we see in Canada. Mostly Canadians show tolerance towards the cultures and beliefs of others but on the clear understanding that such tolerance does not necessarily mean acceptance of another's cultural practices or beliefs.
Tolerance is best exhibited at election times. I tolerate some of the idiots I see running for public office and the idiocy, in my view, of some of the ideas they espouse. Some of my friends tolerate my political rants but certainly don't accept my political views.
The nice part is that in Canada I don't shoot or slaughter those who don't accept my views and they don't kill me or blow up my home.
In Canada isn't politics grand and isn't it great to be a Canadian.
The only thing I can't tolerate is Canadians that are too lazy to think and too lazy to get out and vote. I barely tolerate them.
September, 2010
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