Tolerance & the Human Spirit
by John Culbertson rise to a more integrated, understanding ever flourish or survive if there was no
society, does raise some questions, and diversity. Even a torrent of seemingly
W
hat does the term ‘tolerance’ mean would not appear to be sitting at ease identical ants furtively darting through
to you? To many it seems synony- together. the cracks in our patio are diverse - they
mous with phrases such as “to put up If the tolerant individual is one have to be to survive. Some ants have
with”, harking back to classroom sce- who puts up with the fact that other enormous front pincers for fighting and
narios of teacher informing noisy students people are different, whether through defending the nest, and in fact their
that he will not tolerate such behavior. skin colour, race, creed, religious belief, mandibles are so big they can’t even feed
Certainly it would seem to be the case moral belief or political persuasion, themselves, and so other ants smaller
that the word ‘tolerate’ is associated with then is that individual one who can be than they help the colony by feeding
negativity, and that to tolerate something said to be a catalyst for cultural diversity those who cannot feed themselves. The
is to put up with a situation which engen- and acceptance? Consider the nature of queen cannot move, whilst others are
der negative, unwelcome feelings. society, and in particular, the society that adept at building the nest around her. The
Yet often we are advised that tolera- the intolerant individual may prefer. Since very survival of a colony of ants depends
tion is a skill which is increasingly nec- toleration implies differences which can upon their diversity, and the balance that
essary in an increasingly diverse society. encourage resentment, suspicion and they manage to create through that varia-
It is said that a society which is tolerant doubt as far as individual differences are tion in size, structure and skill.
is more peaceful, and harmonious. concerned, perhaps the intolerant society How much more diverse and rich
Putting these two concepts together, is one where everybody is the same? is our own culture than that of the ants.
on the one hand the common association Prejudice has found more ways to Yet it sometimes seems that we look at
of tolerance with something that might manifest itself than one might imagine. our diversity as a problem to be tack-
otherwise be discouraged, with the ex- Male and female, skin color, hair color, led, and tolerance is the lesson that we
pectation that such behavior would give religious beliefs, dietary beliefs, size, should preach to help to accept such
dress, political beliefs–the one thing that diversity. Yet, just as with the ants, if we
is clear is that within any social group, lacked that diversity, our society, indeed
there will be opportunities for prejudice. our human heritage, would dry up, and
This is simply due to the basic and most eventually lead to stagnation and even
fundamental fact of being human - that extinction.
we are all different. So if being human The skill of being a tolerant individ-
is to be different, unique, individual in ual is not merely the ability to put aside
our collective choices and heritage, then prejudices we may be tempted to harbor,
being human is also, by definition, to be but the far greater and more meaningful
subject, at least potentially, to prejudice. ability to accept and realize that to be hu-
Toleration is either the ‘putting up with’ man is to be unique. Tolerance is nothing
differences, or perhaps it should be con- less than our ability to embrace both our
sidered more as the acceptance of those own humanity, and humanity as a whole.
differences. It is perhaps the most fundamental skill
To be human must necessarily to be of all, and one that is crucial to our very
tolerant - since we have to accept that we survival as a species, as countless wars
are all different in one way or another, across the eons have taught us.
and that to deny this, or be repelled by it,
is to refuse to accept the most fundamen- John Culbertson is a new age teach-
tal aspect of our humanity. Difference. er, speaker and lecturer, and owner of a
One of the biggest challenges we metaphysical/new age book store. He
have is perhaps to try to change the teaches and speaks on psychic devel-
general perception of the word toleration. opment, psychic protection, numerol-
The fact that it is so closely paired to the ogy, astrology, angels, tarot and almost
word prejudice and has negative con- anything else relative to the new age
notations, presents us with a dilemma: field. He is available for private psychic
separating tolerance from prejudice, channelled, reiki, and spiritual coach-
and seeing the skill of being tolerant as ing sessions. Contact John through his
embracing the human dimension, the hu- website www.mysticjohnculbertson.
man need for individualism and diversity. com or call his store Starchild for an ap-
No society, regardless of size, could pointment at 941-743-0800.
30 Broward County
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