RECLAIMING TOLERANCE

November 16th, 2019, will mark the 25th year the United Nations will observe the International Day for Tolerance, where member nations will be reminded to “respect and appreciate the rich variety of our world's cultures, our forms of expression, and ways of being human.” Countries will also vow to renew the Declaration of Principles on Tolerance, first affirmed in 1995.

In hearing of this international day of observance, my initial response was skepticism and criticism. Tolerance is too much of an old-school word. Tolerance doesn’t seem to capture what I imagine to be a good measure of health in any society. Besides, tolerance reeks of negative connotations. For instance, my wife tolerates hearing me snore. I tolerate the armadillos who dig holes in our backyard. We tolerate the occasional temper-tantrum of our toddler.

For me, to tolerate is to “put up with.”

When describing the ideal community, tolerance would be low on the list. I much prefer words like inclusive, welcoming, compassionate, hospitable, and open-minded. Tolerance might be a good first step, but we would need to quickly evolve to embody these additional descriptors. Tolerance may open the door, but it surely does not foster meaningful relationships.

But the way the United Nations defines tolerance compels me to reclaim this word. They summarize with this simple declaration: “Tolerance is harmony in difference.”

This definition is expanded to include upholding human rights, pluralism, democracy, and the rule of law. To practice tolerance is to “respect human rights, though we are naturally diverse in our appearance, situation, speech, behavior and values.” Tolerance, according to this United Nations definition, is not just the opening of a door, but the very way to maintain health in a community. Merriam-Webster seems to corroborate this understanding of tolerance. They define tolerance as “sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own.”

Perhaps I have been too quick to judge the word tolerance. I am sticking with words like inclusive, welcoming, and open-minded, as beneficial ways of engaging one another. But, after rethinking what happens next, maybe tolerance is a good hope for us all. For, if a safe-haven for individual expression is cultivated, we will inevitably encounter differences in thought, perspective, conviction, and belief. Are we then able to be gentle with one another with these tensions – even contradictions? Are we then able to support one another, despite varied opinions and cultural distinctions? To use our newfound word, are we then able to practice tolerance?

To be sure, Berkeley is a school that values differences and seeks to grow in the richness of this diversity. My prayer this week is continued tolerance – harmony in difference – that maintains room for the love of God to be expressed in a myriad of ways.