I prefer INtolerance

Over the past several years, schools and activism groups have grabbed firmly onto the concept of tolerance. The ideal is presented as creating a culture of tolerance, where all differences are recognized and accepted, where diversity is centered on tolerance of one another. We teach tolerance in schools as part of "diversity education", we preach tolerance from pulpits, we sell tolerance as a movement and an idea. At first this seems like a tremendous improvement in society, to create a culture where there is not open discord over differences, where there is no open exclusion based upon diversity, where everyone is welcome because of tolerance. However, there are significant undertones to the message of tolerance that I refuse to accept. Tolerance does not mean that individuals who do not meet the current social definition of "normal" will be appreciated for their differences, or valued for their unique abilities and insights, or treated with respect and dignity. All tolerance guarantees is that their presence will be allowed and accepted without open hostility and aggression. It does not guarantee that individuals will be viewed as having an equal purpose, equal value, equal worth in life but only that they will not be treated with forthright disrespect and scorn. The very use of the word tolerance suggests that those who are to be tolerated are less desirable, less worthy, less valuable than those who are tolerating them and that it is only through the grace and kindness of others that they are tolerated. For example, we appreciate fine works of art, gourmet meals, beautiful sunsets, symphony masterpieces. We tolerate bugs at a picnic, long lines for bathrooms at concerts, scorching hot cars in the summer time, and relatives who invite themselves for a visit and stay too long. No one wants to be tolerated. Tolerance should never be the goal we set, the message that we send as being what is appropriate. Instead we should be working towards creating a society where differences are not tolerated but valued, where there is no question about the intrinsic worth of a person regardless of how they may meet up to the standard societal definition of "normal" or "appropriate" and where diversity is not a buzz word but a natural part of daily life. I can not imagine why anyone would ever desire to limit themselves to just tolerating someone who is not identical to themselves when they could share with them, learn from them, and value each of their uniqueness.