Tolerance: Empathy and Good Citizenship Defined

By Valarie R. Austin, December 20th, 2022, 4:00 PM EDT

(Previously Published on LinkedIn)

As we head into the holiday period, everyone should reflect on the joy and love of the season. Spending special moments with family and friends will occupy most of our time. In the past year, however, teens and young adults have probably witnessed on television or in person the breakdown of civility and tolerance within our communities. Armed men in fake military garb, carrying weapons, have invaded libraries to spout archaic and destructive messages of intolerance against LGBTQ individuals to disrupt kids reading programs and other events according to USAToday.com. Or, individuals have attacked Blacks, Jews, and Asian-Americans in the street or common places such as grocery stores and places of worship. This year, an armed assailant with access to a high powered weapon senselessly massacred Robb Elementary School children in Uvalde, Texas. Since then, mass shootings throughout America have continued unabated every week. Last week, the NewYorkTimes.com reported the indictment of five white Louisiana police officers in the May 2019 death of Ronald Greene, a Black man in their custody. His brutal killing is the latest case of law enforcement officers, violating the civil rights of African-Americans and devaluing the motto of “To Protect and Serve.”  It is important young people understand that the aforementioned instances of horrifying behavior is not the norm. As United States’ citizens, we must unite and disavow the chaos and confusion of violence in our country and hatred of those who are different from us.

America is great because it is home to every creed, color, and religion. Our society works because of our openness to new ideas and progress toward equity. Despite societal barriers and glass ceilings, Blacks, Jews, Asians, women, and other minority groups have taken seats at the decision-making table through protests, voting and working hard to achieve success. Since the Civil Rights Movement, the United States has steadily evolved to integrate all citizens’ talents and developed a rich culture of various innovations, foods, sports, art, architecture, and other influences. Unfortunately, the rot of intolerance, inhumanity and hatred is spreading through social media, faux news outlets, far-right militias, organized hate groups, and others. Right-wing legislators stoke hatred and divisiveness to increase their power and greed without accountability instead of offering solutions to reduce poverty, illiteracy and joblessness. Racism and bigotry have a foothold in America because the people who spout hate also infect their children. Often, children take on the culture and values of their families because that is all they know. As they grow and venture into the world, they are exposed to different people and ideas. Growth and change should help this country’s young people to evolve into mature adults who celebrate humanity’s sameness and respect its differences. Each community has an obligation to protect the next generation and pass on a legacy of tolerance, empathy and civility. We must continue to strive toward a more perfect union by seeing each other as human beings, deserving of respect.

Hatred destroys a diverse society from within. Barriers, such as discrimination and institutional racism, stunt a country’s progress toward greatness because it does not use the talents, skills and intelligence of all of its citizens. Hatred weakens the person who internalizes it. Racists and bigots blame others for their mediocrity and lack of progress. While they segregate into their own communities, these dealers of hate do not embrace the opportunities for success in an open society. That mentality limits their need to be an asset to their community and society. In reality, hard work, grit and smarts are typically the path to success and opportunity. White supremacists, right-wing extremists and Christian Nationalists do not embrace changes in America or drive to achieve their own goals for achievement. They deny science, burn/ban books, denigrate other religious groups, and revise history to justify their discrimination and hate of other people. If these hate mongers are so worried about the United States, they would practice charity and problem-solving to uplift their community. The endless list of problems facing America impacts citizens every day. For instance, a December 2022, USAToday.com survey reported that one out of four parents struggled to pay for basic needs such as food, rent, or healthcare last year. Most solutions mean talking to each other, listening and working together with everyone within the community to vote in responsible, competent legislators who institute policies and laws to improve all communities; institute after school math and reading programs; build/staff youth community centers in every community; raise the minimum wage to a livable wage; combat the homelessness epidemic; create food pantries to fight hunger in their towns; demand police outreach, accountability and oversight committees; push for effective reentry programs for the formerly incarcerated; legislate effective gun reform; expand health care/prenatal care to expectant mothers of every class, etc. Participation in community outreach, research, planning and execution are necessary to fix America’s problems. With the recent mid-term elections, young voters indicated their overwhelming desire for a country of freedom, tolerance, prosperity, peace, harmony and individual rights along with movement toward equity.

Each successive generation must eliminate hatred, chaos, and intolerance in the United States. The table of opportunity is big enough for everyone to sit together and benefit. In my book, “The Student’s Comprehensive Guide For College and Other Life Lessons,” I encourage students to embrace the diversity of their fellow students. That tolerance and empathy should extend to every individual within our society. I advocate that “individuals may not ‘love’ their neighbor, but they can learn to understand him/her.” All Americans, especially young adults, need to reject the myopic mindset of the creation of a phony Utopian world where everyone is the same and some people are more deserving of opportunity based on their color, religion, or sexual orientation. America is better than that. Enjoy the holidays and reflect on your place in this changing world where everyone has the chance to succeed based on freedom to pursue, achieve, and attain the American dream.

Have a great holiday and Happy New Year! - Welcome home, Brittany Griner. As fellow citizens, we celebrate your homecoming and our government’s work for your release and the safe return of every wrongfully detained American citizen in foreign lands.

Valarie R. Austin is the author of The Student’s Comprehensive Guide for College & Other Life Lessons. She has a wealth of knowledge on the subjects of career and college preparation. She also conducts career and college readiness workshops for high school students and parents. Check out her author’s pages on https://www.linkedin/in/valarie-r-austin, https://www.goodreads.com/valarie_r_austin and https://www.amazon.com/author/valarie_r_austin. A Youtube.com review of her book can found at https://youtu.be/xy_GSHlJsa0. This article was edited by Raffie Johnson. Copyright 2022, Vauboix Publishing LLC. Like, comment and/or share this article! (Article 5 of 5, fall 2022)