The positive side of tolerance

If humans are to survive, we will have learned to take
a delight in the essential differences between people
and between cultures. We will learn that differences
in ideas and attitudes are a delight, part of life's
exciting variety, not something to fear.
-Gene Roddenberry


It's getting quite discouraging at times to see just how unwilling we've become to accept differences in others--different skin colors, different political views, different ways of seeing the world.  And while the word "tolerance" may have some negative connotations, at its foundation the word is a good guide to all of us--we should tolerate the differences in opinion and viewpoints of others because they have every right to see the world from their own perspective that we have.  And we should go beyond tolerance, and Gene says here, and actually take a delight in those differences, for they're what make the world go round, what cause positive change in the world, and what allow us to learn and grow and start to see the world in different ways.

You can support any political agenda you like, and I should be able to tell you why I disagree (if I do) without showing any sort of intolerance.  That's called a discussion.  You can be any religion you feel called to follow, and we should be able to talk about it without hatred or rancor or anger.  The moment I say that you're wrong, though--the moment I say that you should change the way you see things or I can't accept you--then I've become completely intolerant, and I'm the one who's causing problems because I'm not willing to let you be who you are.  I'm expecting you to change to please me so that I can accept you.

Intolerance leads to division, and we have a world that's so divided right now that we're in danger of destroying ourselves because we're not willing to accept the views and opinions and beliefs of others.  When we learn how to tolerate differences, then we learn how to live with much less stress in our lives and much more love and compassion and understanding.  And we contribute peace and love to the world rather than suspicion and discord.

(And of course, a disclaimer:  Should we "tolerate" things like murder or child abuse or other kinds of criminal and destructive behavior?  Absolutely not.  But that brings a complete different aspect of the word's definition into play--there's a positive tolerance that allows us to live and let live, and a negative denotation of the word that is a result of fear, indifference, or even cruelty.)