Tolerance: The Other Side of the Story
Ralph W. Sockman, the great American pastor, writer, and broadcaster, once said “The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority.”
Tolerance is not about giving up any of your own beliefs, but accepting differences in others. It’s about seeing the other side to every story. Parents and teachers have an opportunity to teach tolerance to our children and to let them see for themselves that difference is not a bad thing and that when we celebrate our religious, cultural, or other differences, we are much stronger as individuals and as a community.
There are many ways we can teach tolerance, but perhaps the most important way is to be aware of our own attitudes and subtle prejudices against others who aren’t the same as us. Children learn by imitating the adults in their lives. If we practice fairness and tolerance, they will try to be fair and tolerant. If, however, we reinforce stereotypes and intolerance, children will pick up that behavior as well.
Another thing that we can do is to help identify negative portrayals of minority groups that we see in the media or popular culture. Our children are shaped by the society in which they live, and the media can have a powerful effect. We need to monitor what they are watching and listening to so that we can point out intolerance and show them a different path to follow.
It’s also important, starting in children’s early years, that we have open discussions with them about the differences in people and that we answer their questions as honestly as possible. America has not always been a fully tolerant society and we need to acknowledge that, but that doesn’t mean that we cannot be a better society today and into the future.
Tolerance does not mean that we have to accept inappropriate actions or behaviors, but it does mean that everyone deserves a measure of respect. Children who learn to respect themselves first will have an easier time respecting and accepting others. Perhaps the greatest lesson we can pass on to our children is to help them learn tolerance and to fully accept the other side of the story.
