What is Tolerance?

With today being Thanksgiving in the United States of America, many families are going to be gathering together to celebrate and eat. And when families are gathered it's almost guaranteed that there are going to be a difference in opinions about some hot button topics. This year those topics will probably include ISIS and other forms of terrorism, the Syrian refugees, the presence of racism and bigotry towards the LGBTQIA+ community, and maybe even a little bit about the debate over abortion. To say there is the potential to be awkward and uncomfortable is probably an understatement. But with it being what it is, I've been thinking about what it truly means to be tolerant.

This discussion over tolerance can be a difficult one to have. People on the right side of the spectrum complain about people becoming too "politically correct" and that the first amendment right of freedom of speech will go away. On the other hand people on the left complain that the world isn't tolerant enough. The problem with both sides is that they both exhibit habits of intolerance. Conservatives on the right believe the civil rights movements of now are encroaching on their religious freedom and are intolerant to people who don't have the same belief systems that they have. However, liberals on the left are the exact same way, except their intolerance is towards people who they deem to be intolerant and bigoted. At the present moment, it's hard to decide which side is worst. But I feel like the underlying problem of it all is in how both sides define tolerance.

To some tolerance is found in a person's actions or beliefs, or tolerance could just be the lack of discrimination. But I believe neither of these definitions can be applied to the idea of tolerance. I feel this way because I believe that tolerance is not an idea but is actually a way of living. True tolerance is the choice to learn more about people who are not like yourself. This is the case because it is impossible to be tolerant of all people and all beliefs. Everyone is born into and raised in a world that is full of prejudices. Even the most "politically correct" people could be intolerant. And I'll admit that I am also intolerant. Tolerance isn't easy. Throughout my life I have been intolerant towards multiple groups of people whether I was aware of it or not. However, what sets me apart from others is that I have learned more about what I am intolerant of. Through this gaining of knowledge I have realized my mistakes and am more aware of what I do. And although I do make mistakes and have other intolerances, my awareness of these intolerances helps me to become a more tolerant person. 

But if I'm going to be completely honest, tolerance and awareness is not enough. What society really needs is acceptance. Because just because someone is tolerant or aware doesn't mean they like what they are tolerant of aware of. What we need, in my opinion, is acceptance because nothing is going to truly change for the better without it.

Tragedy in Paris

The attacks and acts of terrorism that occurred in Paris last week are a true tragedy to the people of France and the world. However, I want to make opinion on one thing clear. I believe that to point fingers and place blame on Islam is incredibly ignorant. I feel this is especially true of people who pick out parts of Islamic texts that depict violence. When I hear and read these comments of Islam being a violent religion I cannot help but wonder if they if they have read the entirety of the texts that they take their quotes from. Or even if they have read the entirety of Jewish or Christian religious texts. Most people refuse to acknowledge the multiple depictions of violence of violence in the Bible or the Torah. In addition to this they are blind to the true meaning of the texts they are quoting. The passages that call for the killing of "heretics" are not referring to the killing of Jews or Christians. The "heretics" that are mentioned are people who pray to and practice religions of multiple gods or goddesses.

I also wonder if these people have taken or retained any information from any world history class. Historically, more violence has been committed in the name of Christianity than in the name of Islam. A key example of this are the Crusades of Europe. During this period of time, Christians from Europe went to the Middle East in order to reclaim the Holy Land as theirs. It was during this that Christians killed and displaced many people regardless of whether they were Muslim or not. I also have yet to learn of a period in history when people were forced into converting to Islam through the use of violence or persecute a group of people based on their faith. And, from what I have learned, Islamic rule was mostly peaceful.

Lastly, terrorist groups like ISIS, Al Quaeda, and Boko Haram, who claim to be Islamic, are not truly Islamic! They, like those making comments against Islam, pick and choose which pieces of Islamic religious texts that they want to follow. And these passages are chosen because they are the passages that best serve their own interests. They do not practice Islam in the way it is meant to be practiced. It's for this reason that they are not an accurate representation of the entire Islamic community. Islam is a religion of peace and acceptance, and anyone who says otherwise is severely wrong. Think of it this way. No one judges the entirety of Christianity based on the actions of the KKK. For many this would seem ridiculous because the KKK make up a small percentage of all Christians. If this is the case, why shouldn't the same logic be applied to these terrorist groups and Islam?

So, in response to this tragic event, I choose to stand in solidarity with the victims of this violence and their families. But I also stand in solidarity with those who are being falsely accused of violence and terrorism because of their faith.