16 November, 2008: INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR TOLERANCE
Welcome Address
Almighty God! I thank you for giving this evening to all of usfor Tolerance Observation. I take the opportunity to welcome all of you especially our Chief Guest and Guest of Honour. Thank you for joining us.
The UN General Assembly proposed 1993 for the day and the UNESCO adopted 1995 for its principles and action plan and declared 1996 for observing every 16 November as International Day for Tolerance. It is based on the philosophy of ‘Tolerance’ associated with political correctness. The theme is if there is any political difference it must be accepted if there is to be peace but on a basis of truth because there is always a right and a wrong. Tolerance now may be said a ‘Symbol of Peace’.
The ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) 1966 was enforced on 23 March 1976 and the right to Self determination has become a part of it. India is also a signatory and has to tolerate for it. It is now a very important document of our organisation. In 2006 the Human Rights Committee (HRC) was created to consider periodic reports submitted by member States. No country represented to the HRC since its members were elected by member states. An individual of member States can submit complaints to be reviewed by the HRC.
Intolerance, violence, terrorism, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism, racism, anti-Semitism, exclusion, marginalization and discrimination (against national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities), refugees, migrant workers, immigrants, vulnerable groups, violence and intimidation (against individual freedom of opinion and expression) are on the rise threatening the consolidation of peace and democracy, both nationally and internationally, and are obstacles to development. Emphasizing the responsibilities of Member States to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, gender, language, national origin, religion or disability, and to combat intolerance, adopted and solemnly proclaimed the DAY OF TOLERANCE.
We ifop have positive attitudes to promote tolerance in our society, because tolerance is not only a cherished principle, but also a necessity for peace and for the economic and social advancement of all peoples. We know each country has to legislate giving economic and social opportunities to each person with just, impartial and without discrimination. The law must exclude frustration, hostility and fanaticism. States should ratify existing international human rights conventions, and draft new legislation whereever necessary to ensure equality of treatment and of opportunity for all groups and individuals in society. Individuals, communities and nations must accept and respect the multicultural character of the human family. Without tolerance there can be no peace, and without peace there can be no development or democracy.
'All individuals and groups have the right to be different' in the sense that our modern world now needs more tolerance than ever before. It is an age of globalization. Economy through mobility, communication, integration and interdependence should be improved. Every part of the world is characterized by diversity, escalating intolerance and strife. Tolerance must exist between individuals, families and communities. It must shape the attitudes of openness, mutual listening and solidarity in schools, universities, and workplaces. The media should play a constructive role in facilitating free and open dialogue and discussion to reduce intolerant groups and ideologies.
The UNESCO has affirmed Race and Racial Prejudice to ensure equality in dignity and rights for individuals and groups wherever necessary. Particular attention should be paid to vulnerable groups, which are socially or economically disadvantaged. Laws and social measures relating to housing, employment, health, culture, human values, occupation and integration should be publicly known especially through education. Member states must have appropriate scientific studies and networking. They must co-ordinate the international community's response to the global challenge.
Education is the most effective means of preventing intolerance. The first step is to teach people to know their shared rights and freedoms. People should be respected for promoting the will of others. It is an urgent imperative. It should promote systematic and rational tolerance teaching methods with cultural, social, economic, political and religious materials sources of intolerance, which are the major roots of violence and exclusion. Education policies and programmes should contribute to development of understanding, solidarity and tolerance among individuals, ethnics, and linguistic groups. It should aim at countering influences that lead to fear and exclusion of others, and should help young people to develop capacities for independent judgement, critical thinking and ethical reasoning. We pledge to support and implement programmes of social science research, human rights and non-violence. We should provide teacher training, curricula, textbooks, and other educational materials including new educational technologies, with a view to educating caring and responsible citizens open to other cultures, able to appreciate the value of freedom, respectful of human dignity and differences, and able to prevent conflicts or resolve them by non-violent means.
Commitment must be certainly with ourselves to promoting tolerance and non-violence through programmes and institutions in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. The observation of ‘International Day for Tolerance’ will generate public awareness, emphasize the dangers of intolerance and react with renewed commitment and action in support of tolerance promotion and education.
Toleration and tolerance are terms used in social, cultural and religious contexts to describe attitudes and practices that prohibit discrimination against those practices or group that may be disapproved of by those in the majority. Conversely, 'intolerance' may be used to refer to the discriminatory practices sought to be prohibited. As a democratic tolerance, governments must always consider the question of which groups and practices to be tolerated and which to be persecuted.
Tolerance can be shown in many ways. A person might fully disagree with others on any issue from religion to freedom movement, while at the same time respecting those with different opinions and treating them with dignity and respect. Disagreement alone does not equal intolerance. Tolerance is sometimes one-sided. Those who disagree with a particular issue must respect the opinions of those who advocate it, but some advocates feel justified in labeling those who disagree with hateful terms, and vice versa. People on both sides of an issue must be tolerant of each other, in order for tolerance to be effective. Political tolerance is the willingness to extend basic rights and civil liberties to persons and groups whose viewpoints differ from one's own. It is a central tenet of a liberal democracy.
Individual rights and freedoms value a wide array of ideas and beliefs, some of which may offend segments of the population. The expression protected another core of democratic principle. Majority rule with respect for the rights of individuals or groups in the minority without safeguarding free expression of divergent opinions is believed a risk of tyranny of the majority. In a free and open society, public deliberation must expose "bad" ideas only instead of suppressing them.
Controversial issues invite tolerance to say, “Let’s agree to disagree” stance. It does not mean that a person has to accept or embrace words, actions, or ideas that are against his or her values or beliefs. It simply means that each person agrees to respect the other’s right to his or her feelings on the matter. Tolerance usually come into the scene, when two rival parties expressed their opinions, and obvious that neither is likely to change position. Both have to agree to the other for the most amicable outcome. Tolerance cannot go against human nature, or the instinctive impulse of some to pull away from people or things that are different or unknown. It is a learned attribute, a virtue, which requires honest effort on the part of every person. It takes time to develop real tolerance, and take commitment.
Political tolerance is the willingness to extend basic rights and civil liberties to persons and groups whose viewpoints differ from one's own. Unlike the USA in India individual rights and freedoms are curtailed by playing a wide array of ideas and beliefs, some of which offend segments of the population. There is little scope of political correctness. Anything is to be accepted if there is to be peace which is a total misconception. However there must be a basis for the truth for right is not wrong. The world has gone crazy with all of the ridiculous complaints and lawsuits that anyone can bring on, because they are offended by intolerance, meaning someone didn't accept their self expression.
Eventually democratic principles with respect to individual or group rights are in danger since the right to self determination is not implemented properly in many countries including India. It will never be able to remove the risk tyranny of the majority vehemently extant in the society. We cannot recommend it as our free and open society saying deliberately only "bad" ideas instead of suppressing them.
Dr S R Mangang
President, ifop
Welcome Address
Almighty God! I thank you for giving this evening to all of usfor Tolerance Observation. I take the opportunity to welcome all of you especially our Chief Guest and Guest of Honour. Thank you for joining us.
The UN General Assembly proposed 1993 for the day and the UNESCO adopted 1995 for its principles and action plan and declared 1996 for observing every 16 November as International Day for Tolerance. It is based on the philosophy of ‘Tolerance’ associated with political correctness. The theme is if there is any political difference it must be accepted if there is to be peace but on a basis of truth because there is always a right and a wrong. Tolerance now may be said a ‘Symbol of Peace’.
The ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) 1966 was enforced on 23 March 1976 and the right to Self determination has become a part of it. India is also a signatory and has to tolerate for it. It is now a very important document of our organisation. In 2006 the Human Rights Committee (HRC) was created to consider periodic reports submitted by member States. No country represented to the HRC since its members were elected by member states. An individual of member States can submit complaints to be reviewed by the HRC.
Intolerance, violence, terrorism, xenophobia, aggressive nationalism, racism, anti-Semitism, exclusion, marginalization and discrimination (against national, ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities), refugees, migrant workers, immigrants, vulnerable groups, violence and intimidation (against individual freedom of opinion and expression) are on the rise threatening the consolidation of peace and democracy, both nationally and internationally, and are obstacles to development. Emphasizing the responsibilities of Member States to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, gender, language, national origin, religion or disability, and to combat intolerance, adopted and solemnly proclaimed the DAY OF TOLERANCE.
We ifop have positive attitudes to promote tolerance in our society, because tolerance is not only a cherished principle, but also a necessity for peace and for the economic and social advancement of all peoples. We know each country has to legislate giving economic and social opportunities to each person with just, impartial and without discrimination. The law must exclude frustration, hostility and fanaticism. States should ratify existing international human rights conventions, and draft new legislation whereever necessary to ensure equality of treatment and of opportunity for all groups and individuals in society. Individuals, communities and nations must accept and respect the multicultural character of the human family. Without tolerance there can be no peace, and without peace there can be no development or democracy.
'All individuals and groups have the right to be different' in the sense that our modern world now needs more tolerance than ever before. It is an age of globalization. Economy through mobility, communication, integration and interdependence should be improved. Every part of the world is characterized by diversity, escalating intolerance and strife. Tolerance must exist between individuals, families and communities. It must shape the attitudes of openness, mutual listening and solidarity in schools, universities, and workplaces. The media should play a constructive role in facilitating free and open dialogue and discussion to reduce intolerant groups and ideologies.
The UNESCO has affirmed Race and Racial Prejudice to ensure equality in dignity and rights for individuals and groups wherever necessary. Particular attention should be paid to vulnerable groups, which are socially or economically disadvantaged. Laws and social measures relating to housing, employment, health, culture, human values, occupation and integration should be publicly known especially through education. Member states must have appropriate scientific studies and networking. They must co-ordinate the international community's response to the global challenge.
Education is the most effective means of preventing intolerance. The first step is to teach people to know their shared rights and freedoms. People should be respected for promoting the will of others. It is an urgent imperative. It should promote systematic and rational tolerance teaching methods with cultural, social, economic, political and religious materials sources of intolerance, which are the major roots of violence and exclusion. Education policies and programmes should contribute to development of understanding, solidarity and tolerance among individuals, ethnics, and linguistic groups. It should aim at countering influences that lead to fear and exclusion of others, and should help young people to develop capacities for independent judgement, critical thinking and ethical reasoning. We pledge to support and implement programmes of social science research, human rights and non-violence. We should provide teacher training, curricula, textbooks, and other educational materials including new educational technologies, with a view to educating caring and responsible citizens open to other cultures, able to appreciate the value of freedom, respectful of human dignity and differences, and able to prevent conflicts or resolve them by non-violent means.
Commitment must be certainly with ourselves to promoting tolerance and non-violence through programmes and institutions in the fields of education, science, culture and communication. The observation of ‘International Day for Tolerance’ will generate public awareness, emphasize the dangers of intolerance and react with renewed commitment and action in support of tolerance promotion and education.
Toleration and tolerance are terms used in social, cultural and religious contexts to describe attitudes and practices that prohibit discrimination against those practices or group that may be disapproved of by those in the majority. Conversely, 'intolerance' may be used to refer to the discriminatory practices sought to be prohibited. As a democratic tolerance, governments must always consider the question of which groups and practices to be tolerated and which to be persecuted.
Tolerance can be shown in many ways. A person might fully disagree with others on any issue from religion to freedom movement, while at the same time respecting those with different opinions and treating them with dignity and respect. Disagreement alone does not equal intolerance. Tolerance is sometimes one-sided. Those who disagree with a particular issue must respect the opinions of those who advocate it, but some advocates feel justified in labeling those who disagree with hateful terms, and vice versa. People on both sides of an issue must be tolerant of each other, in order for tolerance to be effective. Political tolerance is the willingness to extend basic rights and civil liberties to persons and groups whose viewpoints differ from one's own. It is a central tenet of a liberal democracy.
Individual rights and freedoms value a wide array of ideas and beliefs, some of which may offend segments of the population. The expression protected another core of democratic principle. Majority rule with respect for the rights of individuals or groups in the minority without safeguarding free expression of divergent opinions is believed a risk of tyranny of the majority. In a free and open society, public deliberation must expose "bad" ideas only instead of suppressing them.
Controversial issues invite tolerance to say, “Let’s agree to disagree” stance. It does not mean that a person has to accept or embrace words, actions, or ideas that are against his or her values or beliefs. It simply means that each person agrees to respect the other’s right to his or her feelings on the matter. Tolerance usually come into the scene, when two rival parties expressed their opinions, and obvious that neither is likely to change position. Both have to agree to the other for the most amicable outcome. Tolerance cannot go against human nature, or the instinctive impulse of some to pull away from people or things that are different or unknown. It is a learned attribute, a virtue, which requires honest effort on the part of every person. It takes time to develop real tolerance, and take commitment.
Political tolerance is the willingness to extend basic rights and civil liberties to persons and groups whose viewpoints differ from one's own. Unlike the USA in India individual rights and freedoms are curtailed by playing a wide array of ideas and beliefs, some of which offend segments of the population. There is little scope of political correctness. Anything is to be accepted if there is to be peace which is a total misconception. However there must be a basis for the truth for right is not wrong. The world has gone crazy with all of the ridiculous complaints and lawsuits that anyone can bring on, because they are offended by intolerance, meaning someone didn't accept their self expression.
Eventually democratic principles with respect to individual or group rights are in danger since the right to self determination is not implemented properly in many countries including India. It will never be able to remove the risk tyranny of the majority vehemently extant in the society. We cannot recommend it as our free and open society saying deliberately only "bad" ideas instead of suppressing them.
Dr S R Mangang
President, ifop
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