[:en]Tolerance[:]

[:en]“The highest result of education is tolerance”

– Helen Keller  –

Humans are individual beings who have a way of thinking that is different from one another. However, because humans are also social beings, they must also be able to adapt and socialize with each other in their daily life. In order for them to succeed in living with harmony among other people, they must be able to show tolerance. The ability to demonstrate tolerance in the middle of a country like Indonesian that has different tribes, religions, languages, and social background, is crucial as well as essential.

By the way, what is meant by tolerance? According to Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the word tolerance means ‘the willingness to accept or tolerate somebody/something, especially opinions or behavior that you may not agree with, or people who are not like you’. Another meaning of tolerance is given by UNESCO that says that tolerance refers to an open attitude and respect for the differences that exist between humans. Initially, the concept of tolerance is used to respect racial and religious differences, but now its use extends to respecting gender, people with disabilities and other differences. In addition to respecting differences, tolerance also means learning ftrom others, respecting differences, bridging cultural differences, rejecting unjust stereotypes, seeking common ground and creating new strong links.

Does being tolerant mean we have to accept all behaviors? Of course not. Degrading and harming behaviors of others such as bullying, violating rules and regulation, and any unlawful behavior shall not be tolerated. Tolerance is accepting someone as s/he is, not about accepting bad behavior. It is because almost every religion shares the universal values that tell us to treat others as we would like to be treated.

Why do we need to foster tolerance in children? Anne Stonehouse, an early childhood consultant and author of an article on Tolerance in children, says that experience and research on children shows that children are aware of differences in others from an early age. The differences in race, religion, ethnicity, gender, age, culture, politics, socioeconomics, shelter, clothing, and even food can trigger the antipathy of intolerant people. These people fear those who look different or live differently. Randomly, more intense acts of intolerance have made many people more frightened and unhappy.

People with a very low ability to manage emotions and self can be easily influenced to be intolerant. They often tend to avoid responsibility or feelings of hurt and dislike by judging or blaming others, resulting in hatred and intolerance. Teaching tolerance can begin by teaching children the skills to manage emotions and self, cultivating a sense of love and generating the will to understand others.

Therefore, building and fostering tolerance among Indonesians, especially among young generation, is crucial and essential since we cannot deny the fact that there are differences in tribes, religions, languages, and races that actually existed since the birth of the Indonesian nation.

Parents and teachers can teach tolerance through many things, but the main thing is to be a role model who always show respect to those coming from different tribes and having different religions, beliefs, and political views. Discussing diversity and respect for others makes the child understand the value of tolerance that Mom and Dad want to grow. Give children a direct chance to play and learn with diverse friends. They will see that everyone makes a significant contribution, and experiences the similarities and differences between them. Finally, the best place to start teaching children about tolerance is in the family.[:]