this page created by SAG
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The human condition is one of intolerance. While it can be easily kept at bay, on occasion it is unleashed. The worst instances of this are not hard to isolate: the holocaust, Turkish Armenia, racial segregation. In order for Humanity to overcome its natural tendency to discriminate, it must engender in its young the tolerance that will ensure the discontinuation of the vicious cycle of intolerance. Possible routes to alter this part of human nature are communal and governmental intervention, and education through exposure.
In communities where discrimination is as much of a constant as breathing, the likelihood of children growing up intolerant is increased manifold. The logical conclusion is that in order to engender tolerance, children must be afforded an environment where all are equal, where parents are indiscriminate, and where children of all socioethnic backgrounds can coexist. Unfortunately, due to the reality of the human condition, such a utopia is unfortunately unlikely to ever exist, but we as imperfect creatures can strive to do our best and offer children a safe, tolerant environment for development, putting an end to the vicious cycle of intolerance passed down from generation to generation.
The natural question that follows such a proposal is, �how?�. As mentioned, intolerance is a natural part of human nature. In order for the aforementioned vicious cycle of hate to cease, society must teach its children to respect each other by educating through exposure. By incorporating multicultural days, festivals and curricula into the education system, society can prove to its children that ethnic groups, despite what people may say, do not follow the stereotypes commonly attributed them. After all, how can one be intolerant if there is obviously nothing to not tolerate? This education through exposure will allow young members of society to learn to respect each other�s differences, and tolerance will be engendered.
Because tolerance is a society-wide concern, there will naturally be a movement for governmental involvement in the engendering of tolerance. Through statutes and charters, which make absolutely clear the government�s position on the issue of intolerance, government policy cannot be used as ammunition by intolerant individuals. As has been observed throughout history, these governmental positions can only rarely eliminate a problem entirely, but it is important for a government to play a role in the engendering of tolerance in young people.
Through communal and governmental intervention and education through exposure, society can take steps toward the engendering of tolerance in young people.
this page created by SAG
copyright MMI