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Why global tolerance?
However you wish to interpret the question, we would love to hear your voice.
Views: 493
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Esther Freeman on -
We are all different, with different dreams and desires and needs. It's what makes the world a wonderful place. But when one person's wants over shadows another person's basic needs we have trouble.
In the west our desire for goods, products and services that make our lives more enjoyable, result in developing countries having their communities destroyed, their livelihoods lost, and sometimes even costs lives.
To confuse the debate even further, developing countries are now striving for the same as the West. From East Asia's expanding budget airline business, to India's booming car industry. Who are we to tell them they can't have what we've enjoyed for so many years, simply because we now realise what damage it does to the planet?
The answers to these questions are never straight forward, and tolerance to me is about understanding the complexities of global issues. It's about negotiation, understanding and never giving up, even when the road ahead seems vast and never ending.
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Permalink Reply by Bernard Ochieng Oluma on -
The world is fast changing and becoming a small community. Everyone is turning out to be a global citizen and we must co-exist with each other and respect our cultural diversity. Today, we still have many conflicts in various parts of the world and this affect the whole humankind. We must development a culture of peace and begin in a small way in changing the world to be a better place to live. We must accept that we are one people under God! This is why we need to tolarate each other to realise our abilities in our diversity.
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Permalink Reply by Devin Dyason Botes on -
The best 'job' I ever had was based on creating a new business model through its employees exploring Consciousness. We researched the concepts of Consciousness, ethics, meditation, energy, online media and much more. It was an amazing experience. Ultimately it led to the development of an online platform that allowed people to gain an understanding of why we have the perceptions that we do. Through this understanding we could have more compassion and tolerance for those whose beliefs and opinions differed from our own. It was a rare opportunity to find a company that wanted to make a positive change in the way online communities could be utilized.
GT has a profound mission, one which can change the energy and perceptions of those it reaches. The energy that seeks to uplift, support and celebrate those out there with the love and strength to make positive changes in the world, can only influence society in a powerfully positive way. It is a wonderful piece in the puzzle of raising the Consciousness of the planet while being a successfully sustainable business.
While the old models of economies and business practice fall away, it is companies with this kind of vision and leadership that will lead the way. For me, GT encompasses the new business model. Enlightened, Aware and Fair, this model of compassion is the future and gratefully it's here now making the changes we all need.
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Permalink Reply by Archbishop Dr. Kasomo Daniel on -
global tolerance means seeing communities co-existing regardless of their beliefs, culture,tradition and religion.A Change of attitude is a call to each and everyone of us for global tolerance.There is no peace without development and there is no development without peace.Development is a new name for peace.All this is possible inside the vehicle of global tolerance.Global tolerance is an heavenly experience on earth where there is joy, peace, appreciation and tranquility.It is just beautiful to experience global tolerance.Arch.Kasomo Daniel
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Permalink Reply by Jelena Grujic on -
It is the way to ensure safe and good quality of life for every individual around the world.
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Permalink Reply by Jacquelyn Chi on -
Somewhere around the age of nine or ten, it struck me that everybody views the world from their own perspective. Despite having been told for years that this was the case, for some reason this time it really hit home. I realized that just as I believe that "X" is true, someone else else believes that "Y" is true, with just as much conviction. And who was I to tell them that what they felt was wrong, because I would probably fight them tooth and nail if they tried to tell me that I was wrong.
Though my understanding of the world and the people who inhabit it is more complex than, "There is no absolute truth", that childhood realization has really stuck with me as a reason for needing both the general concept of global tolerance, and a PR/communications approach such as that embodied by global tolerance the organization. Tolerance begins with the understanding that diversity is not only inevitable, but that it is an asset, and the very core of what makes life interesting. Harnessing the power of diversity, however, requires open, transparent, credible communication, rather than defensive, polarizing rhetoric. Credible communication in turn comes from preserving the integrity of a story -- public relations does not have to have the negative connotation of "spin."
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Permalink Reply by Brandy Svendson on -
Global Tolerance can seem overwhelming, and the question of where to begin just as overwhelming. But, I believe it is simple, it begins with the stories and those we do not understand—not the political opinions, not the religious views, not the location or the language, just their stories, how they live, love, what they fear most and what makes them laugh. We are all alike. This is what makes us tolerant, this is what connects us and creates real change.
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Permalink Reply by Gwendoline Baillet on -
Why global tolerance? - a guest blog
I think the first thing that is called for here is a definition, what is global tolerance?
We all have our own agenda when dealing with a situation and bring our own prejudices to the table and we all need to recognise that. It is important not to blindly accept what you’ve learnt, what you know, what you hear or what you read but to ask questions and challenge ideas. This is just as true for your own actions as it is for those you are dealing with. If you analyse why you have done something, what your motivation was and what assumptions you made you can understand the mistakes you made and learn how to do things better next time. Alternatively you can appreciate what you did so well and perhaps make it even better on another occasion.
Tolerance means going through that same process for all the people you deal with so you can begin to see things from their point of view. To quote “To Kill a Mockingbird” “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. If we did that for everybody we encountered how much could we grow as individuals?
We live in a multi-cultural society which practices various religions and speaks many languages. To judge by the newspapers and television programmes we are bombarded with every day it is a doom laden, gloomy world where cultural differences promote misunderstanding, distrust and disharmony. I would argue that it isn’t diversity that promotes this kind of environment but not accepting and embracing diversity. In fact diversity builds bridges and promotes empathy.
By listening to the media it would be easy to fall into the trap of believing that cultural differences only create conflict: That that is the way things are, need to be and will continue to be; that you with your radical, tolerant attitude are alone in a, wicked world. Bad news sells, nobody wants to hear an upbeat story. What nonsense. It is the heart warming, inspirational stories that confirm our humanity. It is the positive news stories that can trigger social change, provide stimulation and create new ideas. We need to share the positives and realise there are an awful lot of us that are alone with our tolerant attitudes; that actually we’re not in the minority after all and we can join together to make a difference.
Apparently we live in stressful times. Perhaps we need to change our way of looking at the world. The negative way is to see everything that happens as a problem we need to overcome, how liberating and inspiring it would be to recognise every challenge as an opportunity to find a solution; an opportunity to grow and learn something new. Cultural exchange, learning from somebody who sees the world with different eyes and from a different view point, is a way to take that one step further.
Tolerance doesn’t mean agreeing with everybody and accepting their point of view. There is much more benefit to be gained by challenging assumptions and questioning beliefs, as long as that is done with a non-judgmental, accepting and open-minded attitude. We get the most out of social interaction when we accept the differences but recognise shared values and work together to find mutually beneficial solutions to challenges.
Of course the detractors would tell you that tolerance is an over-used and shallow concept and unless it is meant sincerely it is. It is all too easy to pay lip service and to use appropriate phrases like “embracing diversity” and “accepting other’s beliefs” whilst doing nothing of the sort. As a society it would be counter-productive to force the issue. People need to realise for themselves, through their own experiences, that this really is the only way forward.
What is the opposite of global tolerance? Just look at the world around you and you will see examples everywhere. Intolerance breeds suspicion, misunderstanding and discord. Intolerance prevents certain individuals reaching their potential, robs us of our humanity and consequently dehumanises us all.
Why global tolerance? Because the alternative is too awful to contemplate and condemns us to world of disorder and unrest. We are defined by the society we live in and I don’t want to be dehumanised, do you?
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Permalink Reply by Sarah J Hart on -
For our survival and for the health of this planet, we need peace, we need better ways of dealing with conflict and competition, we need a lighter touch on earth. In the concept of 'tolerance' is, I believe, room to change ideas of value and of tribe - and in those changes, create the future we hope to see.
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Permalink Reply by Simon Cohen on -
Wonderful, thanks for sharing, Gwen
Gwendoline Baillet said:Why global tolerance? - a guest blog
I think the first thing that is called for here is a definition, what is global tolerance?
We all have our own agenda when dealing with a situation and bring our own prejudices to the table and we all need to recognise that. It is important not to blindly accept what you’ve learnt, what you know, what you hear or what you read but to ask questions and challenge ideas. This is just as true for your own actions as it is for those you are dealing with. If you analyse why you have done something, what your motivation was and what assumptions you made you can understand the mistakes you made and learn how to do things better next time. Alternatively you can appreciate what you did so well and perhaps make it even better on another occasion.
Tolerance means going through that same process for all the people you deal with so you can begin to see things from their point of view. To quote “To Kill a Mockingbird” “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view – until you climb into his skin and walk around in it”. If we did that for everybody we encountered how much could we grow as individuals?
We live in a multi-cultural society which practices various religions and speaks many languages. To judge by the newspapers and television programmes we are bombarded with every day it is a doom laden, gloomy world where cultural differences promote misunderstanding, distrust and disharmony. I would argue that it isn’t diversity that promotes this kind of environment but not accepting and embracing diversity. In fact diversity builds bridges and promotes empathy.
By listening to the media it would be easy to fall into the trap of believing that cultural differences only create conflict: That that is the way things are, need to be and will continue to be; that you with your radical, tolerant attitude are alone in a, wicked world. Bad news sells, nobody wants to hear an upbeat story. What nonsense. It is the heart warming, inspirational stories that confirm our humanity. It is the positive news stories that can trigger social change, provide stimulation and create new ideas. We need to share the positives and realise there are an awful lot of us that are alone with our tolerant attitudes; that actually we’re not in the minority after all and we can join together to make a difference.
Apparently we live in stressful times. Perhaps we need to change our way of looking at the world. The negative way is to see everything that happens as a problem we need to overcome, how liberating and inspiring it would be to recognise every challenge as an opportunity to find a solution; an opportunity to grow and learn something new. Cultural exchange, learning from somebody who sees the world with different eyes and from a different view point, is a way to take that one step further.
Tolerance doesn’t mean agreeing with everybody and accepting their point of view. There is much more benefit to be gained by challenging assumptions and questioning beliefs, as long as that is done with a non-judgmental, accepting and open-minded attitude. We get the most out of social interaction when we accept the differences but recognise shared values and work together to find mutually beneficial solutions to challenges.
Of course the detractors would tell you that tolerance is an over-used and shallow concept and unless it is meant sincerely it is. It is all too easy to pay lip service and to use appropriate phrases like “embracing diversity” and “accepting other’s beliefs” whilst doing nothing of the sort. As a society it would be counter-productive to force the issue. People need to realise for themselves, through their own experiences, that this really is the only way forward.
What is the opposite of global tolerance? Just look at the world around you and you will see examples everywhere. Intolerance breeds suspicion, misunderstanding and discord. Intolerance prevents certain individuals reaching their potential, robs us of our humanity and consequently dehumanises us all.
Why global tolerance? Because the alternative is too awful to contemplate and condemns us to world of disorder and unrest. We are defined by the society we live in and I don’t want to be dehumanised, do you?
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Permalink Reply by Victoria Uwonkunda on -
'Why global tolerance?'
In the words of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a personal hero of mine: “A person is a person
through other persons. None of us comes into the world fully formed. We would not know how
to think, or walk, or speak, or behave as human beings unless we learned it from other human
beings. We need other human beings in order to be human. I am because other people are.”
Archbishop Tutu’s words mirror my own life philosophy sentence: I am you. You are me. This
simple yet meaningful sentence has and continues to set the guidelines for me in my life.
When I heard of an event to mentor secondary school students and inspire them to get a higher
education and prevent them from dropping out of schools, I joined Global Dignity Day because I
realised that not everyone had been as lucky as I was, to have the kind of support I had from my
family, who always pushed me to reach my full potential through education. Spending that one
day with kids at risk taught me that one’s life and dignity are interdependent with the dignity of
others, and I feel the same about tolerance. With my life philosophy, ‘I am you and you are me’, I
feel that when I offend you, I'm offending myself. When I respect you, I'm respecting myself and
when I raise you up, I'm doing the same for myself.
John Donne said 'no man is an island' and each day we are confronted with the meaning of this sentence, be in the form of the global financial crisis, war on terror or our personal lives. We are all affected by others' actions and the challenges we are faced with can not be solved by us alone. We need other people in our lives.
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