Today marks the 18th anniversary of the International Day for Tolerance.
Randy Dickinson is the chair of the New Brunswick Human Rights Commission and he says the day is devoted to supporting tolerance, which is defined as respect, acceptance, and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world’s cultures, forms of expression and ways of being human.
Dickinson says that given the events we have seen at home, and around the world in the last year, it is clear that intolerance is not just an issue in distant dictatorships, but a real threat even in a peaceful and harmonious democracy like Canada.
There are four elements that must work together to defeat intolerance, according to Dickinson.
Legislation to deter the most extreme cases; education to teach individuals and groups they have the right to be different; media to spread accurate and unbiased information and not promote sterotypes, and finally individuals to take responsibility for their own actions and recognize how thoughtless words and actions can perpetuate mistrust, misinformation and jealousy.
Dickinson says tolerance is a moral, political and legal duty, as well as the pre requisite for long term peace.
