Tolerance
E. M. Forster
Q. Discuss the
importance of the tolerance?
This essay has been written by E. M. Forster, he discusses the nature, the
importance and uses of tolerance in our modern times. Tolerance means to
accept the views of other people open heartedly and without any malice.
One should respect one’s own opinion as well as the opinion of other
people. It is the way in which we can create a balance between different
ways of life. We should adopt the theory of live and let live.
Today the world is full of people. Trade and quick ways of transportation
have changed the world into a global village. The boundaries of all
countries have become flexile. The whole Europe is changed into a
European Union. The nations are quickly merging into others. In
modern societies, different nations, races and classes have to live together.
They cannot live with their prejudice and bias. They have to be broad
minded and tolerant.
They should accept the rights of other to live
freely. So in the world where merit and abilities are the only standard,
any fanaticism has no place. The dogmatic and fundamentalist faction can
prove highly destructive for the society and its peace. The only solution
for the peaceful co-existence of different parts of society is tolerance.
The writer further says that there are not too many examples in history where
tolerance has been used. That’s why, if we look at the history of
mankind, it is nothing but a heap of intrigues, conspiracies, murders,
massacres, wars and fanaticism. He thinks that the only way to purge the
human condition is to flourish the spirit of tolerance in people. It is
the way of democracy and it has been advocated by almost all religions.
There is another way to live in the world and that is the way of Nazis.
They believed in destroying everything, every object, every idea, every person
and every theory that they did not like. They exterminated every other
race from Germany. But the civilized societies can never adopt this
way. We cannot live by the "law of jungle". We are the
human beings; a social animal and we have to create a society. But a
society cannot be created without respecting the social and human rights of
other people. So the only way of creating a society or a civilized
culture is tolerance. Writer quotes a text form the Bible in support of
his view! "In my father's house are many mansions"
Similarly he refers to different
philosophers, spiritual and religious leaders who have supported the doctrine
of tolerance. The writer suggests a therapy to cultivate the tolerance in
people. He says that one should put oneself in the place of others and
analyze the situation. In this way one can easily understand the limitations
of others and can find the reason of their attitude and opinion. This
understanding gives us the ability to judge something judiciously. This
will help us to tolerate the conflicting ways and opinions of other
people. We can notice that the people with clear judgment and
understanding are always tolerant.
Then E. M. Forster compares the love and tolerance. He says that love is
important in personal life but it is not effective in public life. The
only force in public life is tolerance.
Concluding the discussion the writer urges us to be open-minded and to see not
only the faults of others but of ourselves too. He says that tolerance is not
weakness rather it is strength. It is the only force that can construct
or reconstruct anything durable.
Q. What is the importance of tolerance in the external and internal problems of
Pakistan?
Tolerance is the most effective guiding principle in the public life of a
nation. Pakistan is an ideological state that was created in the name of
Islam. Islam stresses on the need of tolerance and a Muslim is demanded
to show courtesy even to his enemy. Islamic history is full of such
events.
Today Pakistan is running through a very serious crisis. The whole nation
is divided due to many conflicts. Sometimes these differences are of
religious nature and sometimes political. The changes in international
affairs also cause much disruption.
We need tolerance in our religious life. We should be tolerant in our
relations with other religions. We should give equal rights to them.
Similarly we should be tolerant to all the sects of Islam. Shias should
respect Sunnis and Sunnis should regard the rights of Shias. In this way
we can stop the endless series of bomb blasts and bloodshed on a large
scale. This situation has involved the whole population in it and our
image in the world has been badly tarnished by this intolerant attitude.
The political scenario of Pakistan presents a very bleak picture.
Conspiracies have strangled the democracy. Politicians do not tolerate
each other. Members of opposition are victimized. And the
opposition writes letters to the Army to take over. They organize
movements to bring martial law. The army does not tolerate
politicians. It tries to subdue them. Army doesn’t respect the
basic human rights of politicians as well as the civilian population.
And
this attitude has badly harmed our integrity. We reaped its fruit in 1971
when we lost one of our vital parts due to this intolerance. Even today
the condition is not any better; we are still heading towards disasters of
worst kind. Provincialism is playing havoc to our existence. The
irrationality of political element is leading us to hapless ends. The
haughty and unbending attitude of army is the cause of social unrest and
frustration on a large scale. This horrible situation is only the result
of intolerance.
The difference between classes is also a serious matter. Today our
society is without a middle class. There are the rich or the poor; some
people enjoy everything while others struggle even for the bread.
According to the facts and figures of the World Bank, 87% of Pakistani
population is living under the line of poverty. The whole sum of national
wealth is in the control of some rich families. Feudalism is crushing the
poor people.
The system is not supportive. This situation has
produced an atmosphere of resentment and distrust between both the classes.
But if they open heartedly tolerate each other, the gulf between them can
easily be removed. The rich should try to help poor. The poor
should work harder to lessen this difference.
In our international affairs, tolerance can be very vital. Since the
creation of Pakistan we had to bear the enmity of India. We spend almost
70% of our national wealth on the race of weapons. If we become tolerant
towards India, we can spend this money on raising the standard of our people’s
life.
So it proves that all our internal and external problems can be solved through
the tolerance. This can save us from the discontent and disappointment
present in our nation today.
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