The Idea of ‘Tolerance’

I want briefly to reflect on the connotations of the word ‘tolerance’. This is but natural, not just from a philosophical standpoint but from that of language and literature, of which I am a student. No doubt, there is an affirmative side to tolerance. It implies acceptance, forbearance, open-mindedness, patience, even charity. But the connotations of the word, at least to me, are not entirely positive. Tolerance suggests a reluctant, even forced, acceptance of the Other. It stops short of respect or appreciation. In fact, it might even imply an uneasy coexistence. Etymologically, the word suggests a burden, coming from the Latin tollere, which means to lift up. Tolerance is not the best possible attitude to Others, but rather the minimum prerequisite for social harmony. It is also used to indicate the interdiction of something undesirable as in the phrase ‘zero tolerance’. Overall, I don't think it to be a happy word. We may, perhaps, need to begin with tolerance, but must not end with it. We will have to go much farther than tolerance, work much harder on ourselves if we really want this world to be peaceful. The principle of tolerance will have to be converted to that of love, love that is proactive, powerful, and healing. The politics of conflict must be replaced by the politics of embrace if perpetual peace is to be institutionalized on earth.