A portrait of tolerance

In everyday life, it is common to find situations in which we disagree with friends, family or our partner. Although it is often difficult for us to believe it, each person, no matter how radical, conceited or even absurd it may seem to us, is completely sure that their judgment is correct, fair and, to its extent, the most tolerant. That is why labeling one’s neighbor as intolerant often automatically labels the accuser as such, not being able to understand that our fellow man does not have bad intentions nor does he have to be a cretin, he simply has a different perspective than ours. Yes, treasure, and it is pride that weakens our capacity for conversation, reducing to a minimum the margin to take advantage of the opportunity to learn. We are distressed by the opposing opinion as if it were a personal attack, and that is when we use the resource of (in)tolerance to discredit our opponent, doing a very disservice to the reputation of this term.

On the other hand, there is its political use, since it is used as a tool to repress our most accurate behavior and impulses. You cannot criticize one thing or express another, because you must be tolerant, but is there perhaps greater intolerance than drawing or surrounding the opinion of others, whatever that may be? The problem is not the message, but the forms; It is not the content, but the intention. Expressing opinions, beliefs and values is as necessary as it is instructive, but the quality of tolerance and the basis of a constructive conversation lies in the delicacy of being able to do so without hurting the sensibilities of others.