Teaching Tolerance

This is something I wrote, a while back, as a response to a social media post that one of my friends shared. The post basically read… If you’re being bullied, stand up for yourself and stop relying on others to fight your battles for you. Of course, I had to respond:

I remember those kids, each and every one of them, that were picked on, bullied, and thumbed down because of economic status, physical appearance, or the color of their skin. Their humble dispositions allowed us, as children, to either prey on them or turn a blind eye to those that did, causing a rift in not only their souls but ours as well. 

But now, as adults, we must address this particular issue, not only from the side of the oppressed, to help them gain self-worth and confidence in themselves, but also from the side of the oppressors, who don’t always realize the depth of the hurt they create and cause. We must teach all of our children to be proud of whom they are, but we must also teach them to respect those who don’t quite fit into the mold that society is trying to press them through. 

Love and kindness are more than just virtues, they are the building blocks of a more tolerant and understanding society that I, for one, wish to be a part of.