Tolerance Is Not Related to Social Justice

To be tolerant means to have the capacity to bear something although, at times, it may be unpleasant, and to tolerate differences means to endure them although not necessarily to embrace them. — Dr. Sonia Nieto

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The topic of tolerance is thoroughly covered in my self-published book entitled “Repair the Broken Pieces: A System to Awaken Positive Relations Between the Family and Educational Provider Through Engagement Fusion”. Insights found in chapter three of my book called “Tolerance: Aloof, Spiritless Engagement” will be shared in this article. While intended as a guide to help educators take the lead in developing authentic relationships with the parents that they serve, the information contained in this book as well as in this article applies to anyone devoted to building and maintaining positive relationships with others.

“Repair the Broken Pieces” by Dr. Deborah M. Vereen

Tolerance is misrepresented throughout our global village as a praiseworthy interpersonal trait, especially when the viewpoint is examined through a lens that builds healthy relationships, cultural acceptance, and cultural relevance. It seems as though a widespread awareness of tolerance, a popular and politically correct mindset, is prevalent throughout different sectors of our society. Here are some of the reasons why I believe the tolerance is pervasive today.

People who advocate for tolerance proudly wear their beliefs about their limited knowledge of this word like a badge of honor. Such people view the word tolerance as ultimately good.
Organizations courageously display the word tolerance in their mission, vision, and core value statements. This is done to reinforce systemic efforts to embrace diversity.
Various publications enthusiastically cite tolerance as the cure for solving racial, gender, economic, religious, immigration, and social conflict and to ease the resulting tension that typically erupts. Those who write such literary works maintain an erroneous outlook because their ideas which support their opinion of tolerance cannot help change the behavior of those who create the problems.
Some people praise the act of tolerance for its healing properties within a social movement. These individuals endeavor to prove that tolerance is the answer to the social ills that thrive today.
Tolerance has been used to thoughtfully memorialize others who once possessed admirable empathetic, compassionate, and overall humanistic qualities. Such people are celebrated for being agents of change through tolerance.

The list of inaccuracies associated with the misleading word tolerance is never ending.

Photo by Abigail Keenan on Unsplash

Here is the harsh reality. It is wrong for tolerance to be popularized and eagerly accepted as a positive character trait because of the true meaning of the word. Tolerance means to put up with something. It accentuates a level of discomfort in the process of getting to know, working with, and accepting as well as respecting others individually or within a specified group of people.

Those who tolerate others or distastefully accept them, including all of the diverse qualities that makes them uniquely individual, actually breed negativity. While they may not be able to articulate it, people who are tolerated naturally know when another person merely puts up with them.

Several derogatory outcomes that block the development of healthy relationships result when a person believes that tolerance is a good interpersonal attribute to actively promote.

The inner spirit of those who are tolerated breaks when another feigns acceptance and respect.
Those who tolerate others erect barriers of relational isolation, distrust, inferiority, and suspicion that cannot be penetrated.
Those who endure people tend to display demeaning overt tendencies like talking to those that they tolerate in a manner that communicates their feelings of entitlement and dominance. Tolerant people may also instigate verbal power struggles with those that they put up with. Unfortunately, those who are tolerated are forced to feel oppressed, suppressed, and powerless.
The nonverbal messages communicated by those who tolerate others draws attention to their superior disposition. Some of these derogatory cues include: the poor use of eye contact like not looking at the person or dramatically rolling the eyes while speaking; inappropriate use of voice quality such as speaking in a loud and demeaning manner; and gestures including but not limited to crossing the arms across the chest during discourse.

Conclusion

Photo by Elliott Stallion on Unsplash

The idea of tolerance must be abandoned. Instead, individuals must endeavor to spotlight acceptance and respect. Acceptance represents a willful act of approval that overrides the harmful perspective of tolerance. Respect also combats the negativity that tolerance breeds by emphasizing admiration for another. Through acceptance and respect, positive relationships are developed and sustained.

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This post was previously published on Equality Includes You.

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