Human history is filled with pages where people have voluntarily and enthusiastically paid homage to ruthless aristocracy, royalty and despots. One or more humans subjugating millions of other men has been the story of all civilisations. Men have ruled over other fellow humans through sheer and brute force. Men yield to cruelty and injustice. The brutality of the Romans, the Mongols and the Greeks is a historical narrative of how men submit to the tyranny of the few. Men over centuries have consented to be governed by other men. This is submission and not tolerance.

"He has the courage of his conviction and intolerance of his courage. He is opposed to the death penalty for murder, but he would willingly have anyone electrocuted who disagreed with him on the subject." (Thomas Adrich, leaves for a notebook.)

We as a nation do not behave any differently from the person Thomas talks about. Dissent is equated with disloyalty. Every comment that is critical is viewed as anti-state. We are highly intolerant as a society, although our official religion prescribes the highest standard of patience and tolerance towards dissenting views. We have gone astray. We take up arms against any who oppose our point of view. We oscillate between extremes.

Tolerant politicians win the day. In tolerance lies the strength of principles, codes and rules. Intolerance is the key to sorrow and regret, while acceptance of an opposite view or thought is the key to calmness, joy and happiness.

The ability to encounter and endure tendencies that drive negativity towards others based on differing views over the same matter or issue is the hallmark of a tolerant attitude and behaviour.

A fair, objective and dispassionate attitude towards people who are distinct and different, by way of colour, creed, language or religion, best describes what........

© The Nation