Melody
Nov 9th 2006, 08:36 PM
November 16th marks the International Day of Tolerance. As I entered it into the calendar (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/calendar.php), I couldn't find much to say really. I consider myself to be very tolerant and I figure most of the people I know are too. Its a difficult concept to put into words though, and I think that's because its the WRONG word. We shouldn't just 'tolerate', we should accept and care regardless.
Its not just a day to embrace differences and ensure our non-judgemental stance. Its a day to reflect on how it does apply to us. Think about the ways you come up short with tolerance as it applies to those we really barely tolerate. People such as those who are different on everyday levels. The guy who has a good heart but gets on your nerves, the friendly mentally challenged individual that we brush off because we don't have time, the elderly suffering from memory lapses, a depressed friend because he/she is such a 'downer', the woman who is downright wierd but is always the one who shows up first to support a local family in need....
Are we really so very 'tolerant' just because we consider the opposite sex and those of a different ethnic origin as equals? Or is there still some work to do?
On a personal level, I have the basics down when it comes to gender and race, but there's always room for improvement in other areas for which the term applies. It bugged me that someone who is so charity-aware as I am, couldn't describe the International Day of Tolerance as it applies to the average individual.
Time to really get in touch with myself again. My most grounding activity is volunteering, so I'll spend the day at that in the hopes that it won't only help somone else, but me too. I usually choose the Neonatal Intensive Care ward, having spent almost 10 months there with my first Son before we lost him. There is nothing like seeing innocent babies suffer to bring one's own issues into perspective.
I'll be getting down to basics and I hope you do too. Examine where you come up short and try to stop tolerating and judging on any level, reflect upon why you do so, and address it. It does, after all, speak of a personal issue of our own and really has nothing to do with the other person.
Its not just a day to embrace differences and ensure our non-judgemental stance. Its a day to reflect on how it does apply to us. Think about the ways you come up short with tolerance as it applies to those we really barely tolerate. People such as those who are different on everyday levels. The guy who has a good heart but gets on your nerves, the friendly mentally challenged individual that we brush off because we don't have time, the elderly suffering from memory lapses, a depressed friend because he/she is such a 'downer', the woman who is downright wierd but is always the one who shows up first to support a local family in need....
Are we really so very 'tolerant' just because we consider the opposite sex and those of a different ethnic origin as equals? Or is there still some work to do?
On a personal level, I have the basics down when it comes to gender and race, but there's always room for improvement in other areas for which the term applies. It bugged me that someone who is so charity-aware as I am, couldn't describe the International Day of Tolerance as it applies to the average individual.
Time to really get in touch with myself again. My most grounding activity is volunteering, so I'll spend the day at that in the hopes that it won't only help somone else, but me too. I usually choose the Neonatal Intensive Care ward, having spent almost 10 months there with my first Son before we lost him. There is nothing like seeing innocent babies suffer to bring one's own issues into perspective.
I'll be getting down to basics and I hope you do too. Examine where you come up short and try to stop tolerating and judging on any level, reflect upon why you do so, and address it. It does, after all, speak of a personal issue of our own and really has nothing to do with the other person.