The foundation of tolerance
In November 1993 I came upon a book at
an estate sale in Kansas City. Once I picked it up there was no way I was going
to lay it back down. It was a 1927 first edition of a book by Hendrik von Loon entitled
Tolerance.
This is a very special volume written by a man of varied interests in history, the arts and philosophy. I was first introduced to von Loon through a former teacher in the El Dorado Springs schools whom I met in the fall of 1966. She loved this particular book and loaned it to me to read. I borrowed it a number of times, but I always had to return it, so when I found it in 1993 it was like finding a piece of gold. It brings richness to my mind.
I've been reading it again this summer and it has prompted me to write about this concept called tolerance. On November 26, 1993 I penned these thoughts on the fly leaf of my copy of von Loon's work:
There is one problem among people;
There is one solution.
Fear is the basis of intolerance.
Intolerance is the cause of conflict.
Love is the foundation of tolerance.
Tolerance among people creates peace.
Von Loon traces tolerance and intolerance from the early days of humankind up to the close of World War I. While he sees the inability of our species to practice tolerance he also states clearly that we know the need to be patient with one another and to endure views which differ from ours.
We read the CNN, NBC, Reuters, New York Times and BBC news daily on the internet. We enjoy this format for several reasons. First is the low cost! (Sure beats paying 75 cents for a newspaper with little content.) Secondly, we get to choose the articles we wish to read. And third, we get to read the same news story from several sources and you certainly get a broader understanding of the report. That is one reason we have included a foreign press to follow, as they report events from a slightly different viewpoint. While freedom of the press is vital to societies, at the same time there is a danger in placing your trust in one media to report events. You're only getting one point of view, the editor's. he decides what you think. I prefer to think for myself.
I don't mean to imply that I think my viewpoint is the only one. Quite the contrary. For to imply that my point of view is the only one is to take a position of intolerance. Intolerance is exclusive. It automatically excludes all points of view which in any way differ from my position.
I said about that fear is the basis of intolerance. What does that mean? Quite simply it means that we are truly uncertain of our position, we fear we might be wrong. To assure ourselves that we are right we fortify our position by declaring that it is the only viewpoint which is possible. After all, we said it. We devise all manner of ways to get others to jump on the bandwagon with us. With others gathered around us we can begin pointing our finger at those who would dare to differ with us. We isolate them, we declare them to be the "bad guys" who are out to threaten the "good guys". We find things to question in the performance of their jobs and in the performance of their elected positions. For extra measure we scrutinize their personal lives and point out how they are "different" from others about them.
At this point we have conflict. We have excluded the possibility of a different viewpoint. We are now practicing intolerance. We no longer will accept that another can dissent from our view. Either they agree with us or we will isolate them, point the finger of accusation at them, discredit them, and limit their freedom of action. Intolerance is hurtful. Its intent is to silence any voice which dissents from it.
Tolerance, however, invites the dissenting voice to speak for it does not fear the differing point of view because tolerance is laid upon the foundation of love. Tolerance allows the other freedom of action within his work, his elected positions and his private everyday life.
Tolerance is patient. It is willing to listen to the voice of dissent; willing to consider that voice.
Tolerance is unprejudiced and endures dissent from one's own view. Tolerance creates peace.
Tolerance (from Latin tolerare--to endure): The allowance of freedom of action or judgment to other people, the patient and unprejudiced endurance of dissent from one's own or the generally received course of view.
This is a very special volume written by a man of varied interests in history, the arts and philosophy. I was first introduced to von Loon through a former teacher in the El Dorado Springs schools whom I met in the fall of 1966. She loved this particular book and loaned it to me to read. I borrowed it a number of times, but I always had to return it, so when I found it in 1993 it was like finding a piece of gold. It brings richness to my mind.
I've been reading it again this summer and it has prompted me to write about this concept called tolerance. On November 26, 1993 I penned these thoughts on the fly leaf of my copy of von Loon's work:
There is one problem among people;
There is one solution.
Fear is the basis of intolerance.
Intolerance is the cause of conflict.
Love is the foundation of tolerance.
Tolerance among people creates peace.
Von Loon traces tolerance and intolerance from the early days of humankind up to the close of World War I. While he sees the inability of our species to practice tolerance he also states clearly that we know the need to be patient with one another and to endure views which differ from ours.
We read the CNN, NBC, Reuters, New York Times and BBC news daily on the internet. We enjoy this format for several reasons. First is the low cost! (Sure beats paying 75 cents for a newspaper with little content.) Secondly, we get to choose the articles we wish to read. And third, we get to read the same news story from several sources and you certainly get a broader understanding of the report. That is one reason we have included a foreign press to follow, as they report events from a slightly different viewpoint. While freedom of the press is vital to societies, at the same time there is a danger in placing your trust in one media to report events. You're only getting one point of view, the editor's. he decides what you think. I prefer to think for myself.
I don't mean to imply that I think my viewpoint is the only one. Quite the contrary. For to imply that my point of view is the only one is to take a position of intolerance. Intolerance is exclusive. It automatically excludes all points of view which in any way differ from my position.
I said about that fear is the basis of intolerance. What does that mean? Quite simply it means that we are truly uncertain of our position, we fear we might be wrong. To assure ourselves that we are right we fortify our position by declaring that it is the only viewpoint which is possible. After all, we said it. We devise all manner of ways to get others to jump on the bandwagon with us. With others gathered around us we can begin pointing our finger at those who would dare to differ with us. We isolate them, we declare them to be the "bad guys" who are out to threaten the "good guys". We find things to question in the performance of their jobs and in the performance of their elected positions. For extra measure we scrutinize their personal lives and point out how they are "different" from others about them.
At this point we have conflict. We have excluded the possibility of a different viewpoint. We are now practicing intolerance. We no longer will accept that another can dissent from our view. Either they agree with us or we will isolate them, point the finger of accusation at them, discredit them, and limit their freedom of action. Intolerance is hurtful. Its intent is to silence any voice which dissents from it.
Tolerance, however, invites the dissenting voice to speak for it does not fear the differing point of view because tolerance is laid upon the foundation of love. Tolerance allows the other freedom of action within his work, his elected positions and his private everyday life.
Tolerance is patient. It is willing to listen to the voice of dissent; willing to consider that voice.
Tolerance is unprejudiced and endures dissent from one's own view. Tolerance creates peace.
Tolerance (from Latin tolerare--to endure): The allowance of freedom of action or judgment to other people, the patient and unprejudiced endurance of dissent from one's own or the generally received course of view.
(written August, 2001)
Posted: Wed - January 11, 2006 at 03:39 PM
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In a museum most people spend less than twenty seconds looking at a work of art."
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Published On: Jan 11, 2006 03:39 PM
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Published On: Jan 11, 2006 03:39 PM