IT’S ALL ABOUT TOLERANCE

Dictionary.com defines tolerance as fairness towards those whose race, religion, opinion etc differ from one’s own. To enjoy peace continuously in this world, we need to tolerate each other. Most at times, we fight, quarrel and hate each other because we are not ready to tolerate others. We take entrenched positions and anyone whose opinion is in contrast to ours is often stereotyped.

We are all guilty of this. We need tolerance in the world and we should try to tolerate the views and opinions of each other because not tolerating one another pushes one away. People who are shy are so because they feel that their opinions would not be tolerated or are not tolerated when they speak and thus they rather prefer not to be heard than speaking.

In our society, there are fights everywhere because 1 person refused to tolerate the other and feels that that person for one reason or the other is not qualified to be associated with. People are at each other’s throat because no one is willing to compromise on his/her position. Wars, fights and quarrels break-out simply because one person has refused to listen to the other person’s opinion. People are dying, houses and countries are destroyed all due to the lack of tolerance among us.

On our campus, there is intolerance everywhere. In the lecture rooms, students do not find it easy tolerating each other. Cause People who like asking questions are always viewed as arrogant or proud because they are constantly asking questions and would not allow the lecturer to close. Lecturers who insist on students dressing formally to lecturers are not liked because students think that he/she is worrying them. Respect for an individual is taken for granted and thus we ask for something as if it is our right to get everything we ask for.

When I was in Junior High School, I used to have heated exchanges with my friends because they constantly refused to listen to my opinions and I would always fight them with argument until they agree. It is sad and worrying when people refuse to tolerate your opinion.

It’s high time we change our ways and tolerate each other because if we want absolute peace we should promote tolerance in our world.

Written by:

FRANCIS ASARE OWUSU

EBA 400