6. What is Tolerance?
To tolerate someone means that you dont
necessarily agree with them, but you
‘accept’ them and just get on with it.
It could be behaviour, beliefs, or what they
look like, or when someone else's opinion is
different to yours, to respect their point of
view rather than argue against it. This is
called Toleration.
8. Globalisation
In a world that is increasingly interconnected,
many nations are divided by race, religion,
ethnicities and wealth. Through the ages, these
differences have led to wars, conflict, violence and
great suffering. This is still continuing today in all
four corners of the world. Over and over again, we
witness a lack of tolerance amongst us and see
those with similar views group together and act
against others. They may verbally or even
physically attack others who live differently from
them, creating an environment of hate, judgment
and war.
16. The Irish Republic
You may have read in the news
recently that the Queen is due to
visit Dublin in the early summer.
She will be the first monarch to
visit since King George V in 1911.
It will be seen by many as the
final piece of the jigsaw in the
Northern Ireland peace process.
However, many Irish Republicans
are opposed to this visit because
of the long standing hostility
bet ween Catholics and
Protestants. This is an example of
religious ‘intolerance’.
18. Bloody Mary
Religious intolerance is
not a recent occurrence.
Bloody Mary (daughter
of Henry VIII) was given
this nickname for her
intolerance of
Protestants in Tudor
times. Many Protestants
under her reign were
burned at the stake.
20. Freedom of Expression
France has just introduced a new
law that makes it illegal for women
to cover their face in public.
France is the first country in
Europe to apply a ban on the
wearing of full-face coverings,
including the Islamic niqab. At least
two niqab-wearing women were
arrested for protesting the ban. Are
the French guilty of ‘intolerance’
against Muslim women who choose
to cover their face and body? Is this
an intrusion on a person’s
individual freedom?
22. A Christian Nurse
A Christian nurse went to meet
hospital bosses to find out
whether she will be forced out of
her job for insisting on wearing
a cross while on duty. The 54-
year-old grandmother has been
told she cannot wear the one
inch silver symbol openly on the
hospital wards. Whilst the
hospital says this is on health
and safety grounds, could it be
seen as a sign of religious
intolerance?
25. Burning Poppies
In March, a Muslim man was found
guilty of burning poppies at
Armistice Day.
District Judge Howard Riddle, who
fined the man £50 said: "The two-
minute chanting, when others
were observing a silence, followed
by a burning of the symbol of
remembrance was a calculated and
deliberate insult to the dead and
those who mourn or remember
them.“ Is this another example of
religious intolerance ?
27. Why is Intolerance so bad?
• It leads to prejudice and
discrimination
• It can lead to conflict and
violence
• It can make people feel
superior to others
• It can create negative
feelings and attitudes
• It causes upset, stress and
mental illness
