Tolerance is an attribute that helps people to live together peacefully. Tolerant people accept the opinions of other people and listen to them. They show strength that they can deal with different opinions and perspectives.
Every year the world celebrates “World Tolerance Day” on the 16th November to strengthen tolerance by fostering mutual understanding among different countries, cultures, religions and traditions etc. On International Day for Tolerance, various activities are organized that target both educational institutions and the general public. This day has become more important than ever in this era of rising and violent extremism.
Importance of Tolerance
Tolerance is one such quality that is considered as the bedrock of society. Due to globalization, people of different backgrounds, cultures, and faith live together. Therefore, to establish tolerance and harmony is an important factor. Tolerance generates a society in which people feel valued and respected. Every person has their own room with their own ideas, beliefs, thoughts, and dreams.
No doubt for a healthy and liveable society, tolerance is an essential aspect. One should respect other culture, caste, colour or creed. However, tolerance does not means that only one person/party shows patience and acceptance for others, while the others do not. Therefore, tolerance should be shown on both sides. Tolerance helps in personal development by opening yourself to listen to others and their ways of thinking.
Dangers of an Intolerant Society
However, no person is ready to accept the other as who they are. With discrimination on the rise, and a variety of challenges becoming more and more eminent, it is very crucial that we start giving every one the space they deserve and celebrate life and humanity as a united world force. Everyone has the right to live on this earth the way they want to, within certain limits of course.
Not being tolerant towards others often leads to peer pressure and the pressure to become a person the society wants them to become. This way the person loses his/her individuality and becomes who he/she is not. To satisfy what others, not themselves, want, they become different. In this process of becoming different, many people lose out on their mental health.
It is indeed a fact that since the past few decades, mental health is considered a stigma and therefore people were both ignorant and intolerant towards it. However, things are changing now.
People have started to develop respect for others which is of course a step in the right direction. Of course, the pace of change is very slow but it is happening nonetheless. Whatever may happen, we must realize that others are just as important as we are and therefore, we must become more patient and tolerate each other with whatever way we treat each other. Only if we promote tolerance and good will amongst our people, will we become more and more successful in any and everything we do
