A thought for Thursday

Here is a thought from one of my favorite individuals - Unknown.  He or she has come up with many keen insights over the years.


The most lovable quality any human being can possess is tolerance....  It is the vision that enables one to see things from another's viewpoint....  It is the generosity that concedes to others the right to their own opinions and their own peculiarities....  It is the bigness that enables us to let people be happy in their own way instead of our way.  


This is extremely hard for us to do, in the debating society in which we live.  Also, people today want to be right.  There seems to be some kind of honor in that.  Knowledge is power and if one is not right, then they don't have power, do they?


The world has shrunk so in the last twenty years, it is common to become exposed to many divergent viewpoints.  We need to tolerate, not be defensive.  But people are mostly alike in their needs, feelings, and so on.  It is only that our differences are more subject to standing out than our similarities.  They are easier to pick on and to mystify - easy to use as an excuse to push people away.


If we are tolerant, and get to know folks, we will learn that our differences should not cause fear and keep us apart.   


What do you think?


Take care.