by Olivia Emisar

Created on: December 30, 2009

Let's get something straight right off the bat:  The word "Tolerant" indicates that one must put up with something they don't like, they find inferior, unacceptable or would not choose for themselves under normal circumstances but they are "forced" to "endure" to be civil and maintain the status quo. 

It is akin to "tolerating" our boss's inappropriate language or advances, or tolerating our friend's behavior when he/she is intoxicated because it is expected.  We don't like it, but we "tolerate" it. 

Raising children who tolerate is simply stating that they will be raised to have the good manners to suffer quietly and remove themselves from the situation as unobtrusively as possible while maintaining their learned biases and prejudices intact, but having the good manners of not voicing them in "mixed" company.

 It would be preferable to state that we are raising our children to be ACCEPTING of the fact that the world does not revolve around them because they have the "right" skin tone, the "right" last name, the "right" religion or the "right" ethnic background.  Children should learn that the Earth revolves around the Sun to everyone's benefit and that we are all equal with a variety of differences that are more than worth learning about to enrich their lives, expand their horizons and allowing them to step outside of the bubble created by their social environment. 

Accepting each other's differences fosters learning and increases understanding while developing excellence in communication skills.  We should strive to show our children the world without the blinders of preconceived notions and perpetuated stereotypes.  This type of education starts at home with parents who embrace and accept diversity as well as the understanding of cultures of people who are different from themselves. 

Please don't think for a minute that this is directed towards Anglo-Saxon descendents, this way of raising families goes across the spectrum with no one's culture being touted as being "more" or "less" than the others, Hispanic families, African-American, Hindus, Oriental, etc, would do the communities around them a service from allowing them to learn from them and in turn, accepting and learning from those around them.  Children of every culture would benefit greatly from being able to move effortlessly across cultural divides that have been formed and perpetuated out of fear of the unknown and the unwillingness to adapt to a changing landscape. 

We all have much to contribute and share with one another, and what could be more enriching to the lives of our children than to have a veritable smorgasbord that allows them to be global citizens rather than provincial ones?  What could ensure understanding and global peace more than true knowledge and appropriate communication? 

Let's teach our children to be accepting rather than tolerant, we have had enough "tolerance" for far too long.

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