This is surprisingly hard to define. It is not hate or prejudice, but both stem from intolerance. I decided to do a basic inquiry; definitions.
* Intolerance: an unwillingness to recognize and respect differences in opinions and beliefs.
* Prejudice: preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or experience. Unjust behavior formed on such a
basis.
* Hate: intense hostility and aversion usually derived from fear, anger, or a sense of injury.
These definitions are different, but prejudice and hate seem to come from "the refusal to recognize and respect differences in opinions and beliefs."
Who is intolerant?
People who are intolerant are not always haters who wish to victimize others through violence or other unjust acts. I have seen intolerance demonstrated by people who consider themselves "average". They would never burn a cross or beat someone. They feel themselves good people, caring people, even Christian people. Yet they demonstrate intolerance, the refusal to recognize and respect differences in opinions and beliefs, by acting as if people of different backgrounds, lifestyles or sexual orientation are somehow wrong. It is this attitude of difference being wrong that leads to the more intense prejudice of hate crimes and hate groups. Average people who are intolerant of difference do not commit these crimes, but allow them to be committed. Through their sense that the victims of hate crime or prejudice are wrong, there is no outcry, no indignation, no prevention. There seems to be a sense of "they brought it on themselves". Even when the offense is committed on the basis of race or national origin, there is a sense of "They shouldn't be here." Crimes against women are sometimes dismissed by a feeling of "She wasn't acting properly." This is the most destructive kind of intolerance because it keeps the cycle of discrimination going by the lack of consequences to prejudice and hate. This lack of consequence has two obvious results. The first is that if there is no real punishment for the offender and the incident is overlooked, the offender will feel the incident wasn't really wrong, or worse, that he/she has the unspoken support of others. It encourages that person to continue these actions and/or attitudes. The second is that if the victim of hate or prejudice feels that the community does not support them they will be less forthcoming with subsequent incidents. Others who suffer from hate or prejudice may see the outcome of previous incidents and not report their experience. This lack of consequence to discrimination makes it easier to commit. It becomes a cycle that then needs to be broken by new or revised attitudes about tolerance and justice.
Why are people intolerant and fear difference?
Difference is threatening according to the APA (American Psychological Association). It is to be feared and avoided; a human instinct. Just as it is in the animal kingdom, there is danger in being alone, apart from the herd. There is safety in numbers. Most people dislike being different because it puts them on the "outside" of a community or society, not one of the group. Societies in general promote this fear in an attempt to control a population and promote conformity. Being part of a group is comfort, acceptance and belonging. As individuals we not only feel safe with those of our group, but they feel safe with us. This leads to unity.
If fear of difference is both instinctual and promoted within a group/society as a means of control does this mean then that intolerance is reactionary, with no more thought than pulling your hand away from a hot stove? The desire to be accepted by those around us and the promotion of conformity by society may be one of the reasons why there is such intolerance in the world and in the U.S.
What can be done?
Kofi Annan - Speech on tolerance
"At the root of such fears of difference are ignorance and lack of education-a potent breeding ground of prejudice, hatred, and discrimination. Education is the most effective means of preventing intolerance. If the human family is to have any hope of living together in peace, we must come to know and accept one another. At the heart of all efforts to promote tolerance there must be open dialog, both between individuals and among different cultures and civilizations. Without dialog, cultural diversity is threatened. Without dialog, we cannot have peace."
We must also look closely and honestly at ourselves. Most people have prejudices that they are not consciously aware of. Through examination of our own apathy toward acceptance of those who are different we can start to correct these social injustices toward our neighbors and friends. No one can solve a problem if they don't realize it exists.
There is also a danger in "naive thinking". A naive thinker simply accepts the current norm with all the definitions and expectations that accompany it. People sometimes think, say, and do what has always been thought, said, and done. We must educate ourselves on the issues of intolerance toward others. Read articles or papers written by people of different backgrounds. Search for texts or documents that are written from a point of view different from your own. Talk to someone who has a different background/lifestyle from yours. Find out about their problems, concerns, and hopes. We may find that we have as much in common with each other as not. In this "information age" it is inexcusable to continue through this life being ignorant of each other.
One last note. Acceptance does not mean agreement. There are many people who refuse to accept others on religious or cultural grounds because they fear it is sanctioning these differences. A person can accept the different beliefs or lifestyles of others and respect their right to these differences without agreeing with them. Every person who lives within the law deserves the human right of freedom of choice and to have those choices recognized and respected
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