Fall semester topics

UNESCO day of tolerance

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for Tolerance is annually observed on November 16 to educate people about the need for tolerance in society and to help them understand the negative effects of intolerance.

"In relation to tolerance, which can effect all segments of life (religious, human rights, cultual, individual or social etc.) today we invite you to focus on the topic of tolerance in your relationships (towards friends, classmates, spouse, relatives etc.) What does it mean to be tolerant (accepting, being open, appriciating feeling compassionate) towards each other.

Robert Green Ingersoll, a 19th-century American politician, once said, "Tolerance is giving to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself."

Put simply, tolerance means keeping an open mind when interacting with others who are different from you, and treating everyone with respect and compassion, even when you don't share their opinions or values. It means embracing differences and recognizing that these differences help to make our world such a rich, diverse, and exciting place.
These differences can include race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, philosophy, values, physical abilities, and age. There might also be differences in viewpoints, family obligations, background, dress, work practices, political beliefs, attitude, education, and class.

Why Tolerance is Important


Human beings aren't born intolerant. If you watch young children playing in a schoolyard, they care nothing for the color of someone's skin, their gender, or the way that they're dressed. They see nothing other than a playmate.
Often, as we get older, we're taught to embrace the differences around us. For some, however, these differences may begin to challenge a sense of "safety." People often relate easily to those who are similar to themselves, but they may struggle with those who are different.
No matter how different someone else may seem, the reality is that we all share the common bond of humanity. Our emotions and life experiences bind us together, and we often have far more in common with one another than we might think.
This is why tolerance is so important. When we have an attitude of inclusion, a world of possibilities can open up.
Tolerance encourages open and honest communication, promotes creativity and innovation, fosters respect and trust, improves team work and cooperation, and encourages good work relationships. It also enhances cooperation, loyalty, and productivity – all of which are highly important in the workplace! Sorce info

How to Encourage Tolerance


Seek to Understand
Watch What You Say
Set an Example
Understand Cultural Differences
Understand Different "Working Styles""
Continue



  • Coping with race-related stress
  • Cross-cultural journey for international students
  • Perfectionism
  • Recommended books

    Marshall Rosenberg: Living Nonviolent Communication (Practical Tools to Connect and Communicate Skillfully in Every Situation), 2012.
    Desmond Tutu, Mpho Tutu: THE BOOK OF FORGIVING The Fourfold Path for Healing Ourselves and Our World, 2014.

    Additional video resources

  • Powerful video by Nic Vujicic