Tolerance Does Not Mean Tolerating Intolerance

Tolerance means patience with and acceptance of other people’s beliefs. It is the act of treating others as equals, despite the fact that those others do not share your beliefs or differ in how they live their lives.

Tolerance means you do not resort to violence or slander against a person with whom you disagree. It does not mean that you have to support or agree with others beliefs. It just means you should attempt to overcome a belief, prejudice or hatred that you or others hold by trying to understand where they are coming from by asking why it is. 

Tolerance is agreeing to disagree instead of forcing or imposing your way of thinking on others.

Likewise, others should treat you with tolerance and respect. 

Tolerance does not mean you tolerate intolerance from others. 

Being tolerant or respectful does not mean you have to tolerate bad behaviour and allow it to continue. 

Putting up and shutting up is not tolerance. 

Being accepting of and being patient with people who show intolerance is not what tolerance is about. 

That is being bullied, if it is being done to you. 

If you are watching it happen as a silent observer, then you are enabling such bad behaviour to continue.

You do not have to tolerate everything that is bad and does not add value to your life or this world.

Do not tolerate disrespect.

Do not tolerate ignorance.

Do not tolerate stupidity.

Do not tolerate rudeness.

Do not tolerate unkindness.

Do not tolerate lies.

Do not tolerate harmful behaviour. 

Do not tolerate evil.

Tolerance does not mean you must let someone walk all over you like a doormat. 

Tolerance does not mean you have to keep silent when people show disrespect towards yourself or towards others.

When you do not call out intolerant behaviour, that is disrespecting yourself and enabling others to continue in their intolerant and disrespectful ways.

That is not being tolerant. That is not being respectful of yourself. That is not being brave to stand up for others who cannot do so for themselves.

Tolerance is a strength. 

In order for it to work, you need to embody tolerance in your life. 

But do not let someone with double standards wield your strength and turn it into a weakness. Do not let someone use the values of tolerance and twist and turn it against you. And the good it is meant to stand for. Do not let them use the respectful nature of tolerance and misuse it to their benefit. While they themselves do not have to do apply the same values and uphold the same standards they expect from you. 

You can be love and still call someone out on their wrongs. Being loving does not mean tolerating bad things being done and accepting it. When good people say nothing and tolerate intolerance, that is what enables more intolerance to thrive. 

Instead show them how to be tolerant by speaking words of truth without being rude. Speak out for love. Call them out on their intolerant behaviour without being mean. Confront them directly with gentle words that are respectful but hard hitting because it is matter of fact and clear. Let them know they cannot behave in such a manner. Let them know what exactly is wrong with it. That takes courage. 

And if they will not listen, it is not your place to make them. You cannot reason with someone who is unreasonable and who will not listen to reason. You cannot use logic or sense with someone who lacks logic or common sense. Say your piece and leave it there in peace. 

You have opened a door, you have brought awareness. 

You have shown what tolerance really is.