Tolerance is not an endorsement. It is merely and acceptance. I do not agree with your views on the subject. I do not fallow your beliefs. I do accept that it is your right to have them. So long as they do not harm me I shall tolerate them.

If you pray to a God I do not follow, I will not pray with you. I will remain silent in respect for your right to have those beliefs, as I would expect you to do for me.

I will listen to your ideas, I may not like them, I may not agree with them. I may express my own in an attempt to influence you.

I will give you a level of respect, as I do everyone till you prove that your not worthy of it by compromising my trust or by failing to respect me and mine as I have respected you and yours. Even if I loose all respect for you I will not degrade you in private to others with anything I don’t say to your face and will choose silence rather then to speak of you unless asked.

I may study your beliefs in an attempt to understand you, but that doesn’t mean I will accept them as my own. I will hope you enjoy the holidays you celebrate, and that your family is well. I hope that you are happy. I will enjoy the time we have together involving interests that we do share.

I may choose to simple ignore any irritating habit you have. Or I may let your know that it is bothering me. I will not resort to a physical or verbal attack of you. I may choose not to associate with you in any activity I’m not required to attend. 

No matter how much I dislike you, I like myself enough not to want to be associated with acts of intolerance. Through this tolerance we can get along. Peace is a possibility. Make it your reality and maybe it will spread till we all get along. I know we won’t love everyone and some wouldn’t want our love anyway. We can learn tolerance. I Hope.