Tolerance

Our body learns when an antigen is not harmful and progressively downgrades the reaction to where the foreign antigen is no longer noticed. This is called learned tolerance or immune tolerance. Our emotions or state of mind appear to possess a similar tolerance mechanism. As with a harmful foreign antigen, our minds can adapt to a perceived danger. And, similar to the immune system, there are differences in the innate understanding of danger, where some people innately recognize real danger. That is, some know in the absence of injury how to recognize danger and, some, learn through injury. There is also the issue of the subjectivity scale of danger.

I ask myself whether education in its many forms can drive the move away from unlearned intolerance or ignorance toward learned tolerance and consciousness. There are two things that have helped in developing tolerance for me. One, I came to realize that some are unaware an unintentional bumping into someone can be unpleasant. And two, I am mostly unable to change people. All I can do is pray. There are many reasons why it is nearly impossible for one person to change another. Among those reasons is that there may not be an interest in learning … such a thing. It is not on the LiDAR. In addition, some are reluctant to hold hands. The possibilities are endless. I am unsure as to whether I should change another, anyway. Would it make them happier, or better? Would it improve quality of life? It seems judgmental and presumptuous on my part. This is a big bag of worms!

As the immune system has taught humankind, tolerance can be learned, and for those for whom it is possible to develop tolerance, I ask for greater tolerance to lead to a world where every hand is holding hands. We will patiently learn how to hold the hands of those who are fiercely defiant or, just let it be, because, for the time being, it is what it is.