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Tolerance, The Bedrock of Every Peaceful Society (I)


Tolerance is an important concept that helps people to live together peacefully. To be tolerant means that you accept other people’s opinions and preferences, even when they live in a way that you don’t agree with. Tolerance also means that you don’t put your opinions above those of others, even when you are sure that you are right. Tolerant people show strength in that they can deal with different opinions and perspectives. Tolerance makes it possible for people to coexist peacefully. It is the basis for a fair society in which everyone can lead their lives as they wish.

Tolerance doesn’t just make peaceful coexistence possible, another advantage is that being open to other ways of thinking can help with personal development. When you know more about different thinking and ideas from around the world, it will help you to understand the world better. Teaching children about tolerance is the best gift that you can give them. Children shouldn’t grow up with feelings of hate and suspicion. Children who grow up with hate and jealously of others turn into unhappy people. And children who are forced to believe certain opinions will develop into people who aren’t free or independent thinkers. If children experience love and tolerance, they will be able to grow up and lead a happy and peaceful life.

Tolerance is an important aspect of any society. It isn’t simple to be a tolerant person. It is okay to stick to your own values, but it makes sense to evaluate your values, especially if they are having an effect on others. It needs to be clear that everyone has their own opinions and values and that these need to be respected and accepted. If we want to live in a peaceful society, there is no alternative to tolerance.

 Society is formed by groups of individuals who possess different elements that make them human.  We all have our unique characteristics and personalities that make us different from each other. Those characteristics, qualities and attributes, which are the bases for the betterment of society, are in fact most important and of great significance, whether it be loyalty, sincerity, love or gratitude. Tolerance is one of those qualities that forms the bedrock of society. The world is a much smaller place today. Globalisation has blurred borders throughout the world. More people from different nations, cultures, religions and lifestyles are working together and living in the same neighborhoods than ever before. 

In this globalisation, where people of different backgrounds, cultures and faith live together, and where the world has become more multicultural and diverse than ever before, establishing tolerance and harmony has become more crucial and important; fostering mutual love and affection has become vital. Let’s take religion for instance. Tolerance is very important in the case of religion. How people worship is a very personal thing and someone bashing a person’s religion can start a heated battle very quickly. Everyone has the right to believe what they want. If there was more tolerance among people, there would be fewer battles over whose religion is right.
 In times of peace, people have a chance to prosper socially, economically and emotionally. Tolerance creates a society in which people can feel valued and respected, and in which there is room for every person, each with their own ideas, thoughts and dreams. This is why we tolerance is important: because it is an essential aspect of a healthy, livable society. In fact, it is the only way in which a country as diverse like Cameroon, politically, religiously, economically, should function and use each and every difference to make its people thrive rather than suffer. It is imperative that people show cultural tolerance where there is a diverse array of people of different cultural backgrounds. One must respect the culture of another irrespective of class, colour or creed. 
In this era, where there is enough maturity and sense of values of others, we still observe lack of tolerance regarding culture. We need to accept every individual of our society as our own. We have to be tolerant to any kind of culture. Only then can a society be called perfect and tolerant.
However,  a factor playing a major role in destroying the peace of the world are those self-perceived notions about others and culture. To maintain peace in society, it is necessary for one to eliminate all sentiments of hostility from one’s heart and to increase one’s levels of tolerance. Everyone has the right to speak whatever they will but one must not go beyond the sentiments and values of others. One must consult wisdom before speaking, because words can leave a lasting impression and break one’s heart in a matter of seconds. Many a time, we see people develop mutual enmity just because they are hurt from words said by others about their religious and holy personalities or those things which they hold sacred. 
Governments and stakeholders  have the power to change views of individuals, by taking steps that can help promote peace and harmony. No government can deny the importance of tolerance in society, as tolerance is what breaks barriers of discrimination and brings every class of the society on the same page. Tolerance does not mean that only one person or party shows patience and acceptance for others, whereas the others do not. When people disagree on a certain issue, they must advocate and express their opinion in a respectful manner, and hateful and provocative words should be avoided. Tolerance must be shown from both sides on issues, in order for it to be effective. Here, let it be clear that showing respect and tolerance to the opinions of others does not necessarily mean you must compromise your principles or unwillingly embrace or accept others’ ideas. It is simply a matter of fundamental human rights. The basic right of every human being is that their sensibilities and sentiments shall not be violated and offended and must be recognised. And every person has the right to have an opinion and to express it. ..... to be Continued 

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