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interact will decrease these behaviors or prejudices.

Sexual orientation is an area where tolerance is reaching war-zone proportions. How can the barriers created by the differences in sexual orientation be overcome? They cannot be overcome by teaching students that you have to accept another orientation/behavior as appropriate, if there are obvious differences in their beliefs. While there must be a leading and modeling of personal and social interactions as people of equal value no matter their sexual orientation, sexual behavior is not an issue where tolerance can be made mandatory. Gays and straights get along quite well if allowed to do so. Stepping in and making rules about agreement or disagreement regarding the sexual behaviors will only cause separation. Having rules regarding name calling, bullying, and otherwise hateful talk between people of different orientations is appropriate, and necessary. Those rules must cover all possible differences, and not focus on some selected groups.

People of all kinds have learned to live together quite well just by being offered the opportunity to do so without rigid guidelines and laws or rules. At the same time, when a group who feels they have been discriminated against is able to force adaptation to their way of life, it causes a reverse form of discrimination, the tolerance issue is often trashed quickly.

Education is a part of life, and the very gathering of people from every way of life in one building for long periods of time, will teach tolerance when the educators live it out, and it is addressed through positive leadership by the staff. Political correctness and governmental intervention should never be needed in order for civilized people to get along.

Learn more about this author, Ernest Smartt.
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