Epress.am News from Armenia
In an annual observance to educate people about the need for more tolerance in society and to help people understand the effects of intolerance, the International Day for Tolerance is celebrated on November 16 each year. The day is an opportunity for people to learn about recognizing and respecting the rights and beliefs of others and a time for reflection and debate on human rights, reports the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation.
To understand the word tolerance, we must have an appreciation of diversity and the ability to live and let others live. This would require a fair and objective attitude towards those whose opinions, practices, religion, and nationality differ from one’s own. It is not just agreeing with each other, but more so showing respect for the essential humanity in every person.
Tolerance refers to the skills we need to live together peacefully in a society in which people can feel valued and respected, in which there is room for each of us to have our own ideas, thoughts, and dreams. On the other end, intolerance is rooted in ignorance and fear and is linked to an exaggerated sense of self-worth and pride.
In times of peace, people have the chance to prosper socially, economically, and emotionally. Events in one part of the world eventually affect the entire planet and each major local problem can become a global concern. More than economic and political alliances, tolerance creates a society in which people can feel valued and respected.
Time and commitment is required in building tolerance and trust to achieve the kind of peace the world seeks. More than ever, today’s world needs tolerance as an important trait, a positive attribute which will surely make the world a better place to live in.
The International Day for Tolerance is an annual observance declared by UNESCO in 1995 to generate public awareness of the dangers of intolerance.