Comments on: Tolerance: A Difficult Virtue http://www.leifbaradoy.com/tolerance-a-difficult-virtue/ Leif Baradoy is a vital writer, poet, artist, husband, and consultant Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:34:45 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Leif Baradoy http://www.leifbaradoy.com/tolerance-a-difficult-virtue/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Leif Baradoy Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:18:39 +0000 http://leifbaradoy.com/blog/tolerance-a-difficult-virtue/#comment-31 Laura, Honest debate . . . I think people are frightened to discuss tolerance, in part, because of perceptions that they will be perceived as intolerant. One thing that seemed clear to me in the program was that two of the debaters simply wanted t affirm that Canada is on the right path and that more tolerance is needed. Perhaps because their concern was more focused on necessary improvements and celebrating our successes (which was not the point of the show, mind you) they didn't want to talk about the limits of tolerance. Perhaps they felt discussing the problems surrounding tolerance would undermine their project. All the best, Leif Laura,
Honest debate . . . I think people are frightened to discuss tolerance, in part, because of perceptions that they will be perceived as intolerant. One thing that seemed clear to me in the program was that two of the debaters simply wanted t affirm that Canada is on the right path and that more tolerance is needed. Perhaps because their concern was more focused on necessary improvements and celebrating our successes (which was not the point of the show, mind you) they didn’t want to talk about the limits of tolerance. Perhaps they felt discussing the problems surrounding tolerance would undermine their project.

All the best,
Leif

]]> By: Laura http://www.leifbaradoy.com/tolerance-a-difficult-virtue/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Laura Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:48:03 +0000 http://leifbaradoy.com/blog/tolerance-a-difficult-virtue/#comment-30 Having listened to the program myself, I must agree with your assessment of the "debate." All around, the program was quite a disappointment. I think the topic of tolerance is a contentious one, and one that gets far too little genuine consideration in the Canadian media. I suspect that part of our reticence to debate the topic is that too often the mere presumption to discuss tolerance is considered intolerant. While the urbane, cosmopolitan upper-middle class in Canada may take tolerance and multiculturalism for granted, these values have not necessarily pervaded the majority of Canadian communities. I, personally, place a high value on the virtue of tolerance, if it is appropriate to refer to tolerance as a virtue; at the same time, I wonder how we can work to both clarify and disseminate an appreciation of tolerance without having open and honest discussion around what shape tolerance will and will not take in Canada. Issues of sectarian educational institutions and official positions on the ethnic and sexual oppression still faced by many in Canada will only become larger issues going forward. A little honest debate, please. Having listened to the program myself, I must agree with your assessment of the “debate.” All around, the program was quite a disappointment.

I think the topic of tolerance is a contentious one, and one that gets far too little genuine consideration in the Canadian media. I suspect that part of our reticence to debate the topic is that too often the mere presumption to discuss tolerance is considered intolerant. While the urbane, cosmopolitan upper-middle class in Canada may take tolerance and multiculturalism for granted, these values have not necessarily pervaded the majority of Canadian communities. I, personally, place a high value on the virtue of tolerance, if it is appropriate to refer to tolerance as a virtue; at the same time, I wonder how we can work to both clarify and disseminate an appreciation of tolerance without having open and honest discussion around what shape tolerance will and will not take in Canada. Issues of sectarian educational institutions and official positions on the ethnic and sexual oppression still faced by many in Canada will only become larger issues going forward.

A little honest debate, please.

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