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Samantha Hicks, Undergraduate, Eastern Illinois University ______ “When I think of tolerance, I think of “what am I willing to put up with” which gives the word a bad rap. Tolerance transcends into so much more when one takes the time to do to the love work within themselves and with others as one moves from one stage of growth to the next.” Bridging divides in America looks like “love work” as Dr. Cairo speaks about in her book, Holding Space. The disconnectedness of humans towards each other and other living beings that inhabit our Mother Earth is increasingly apparent and unsettling. We can project all of these grand theories as to what and why these deep divides between our fellows are continuing at such an alarming rate. But when we get down to it, it’s the selfish, self-seeking, and fearful motives that divide us. I hope these suggestions of closing the gaps in the dominant and the other divide will hopefully make the ones who read and hear this reflect on the subtle voices and actions of themselves and the way their presence in this world affects all of us in it. Let’s consider the fact that human beings like taking the “easier, softer way.” Love work requires peeling back the layers of oneself to uncover the things we find objectionable, or that others may find questionable. It is not for the faint of heart who are willing to trudge the road of self-analyzation day in and day out to traverse the path that leads to the type of being one wishes to strive towards and the indispensable steps to carry out their story. If we come at this issue of bridging divides with a simpler approach, maybe it’ll catch on quicker. Maybe it’ll be relatable and easier to hear and digest and translate into action. As I mentioned, humans tend to like the “easier, softer way.” Addressing the divisions of America involves addressing ourselves which may be unfavorable or “unnecessary” for some. So, let’s admit there’s a problem amongst the nation and with those who dwell within it. I can no longer look blindly onto the injustices and unremitting hate of my fellows. Now what? I admit the fact that my human aid is not sufficient to overcome the vastness of the problem as a whole. A quote comes to mind— “He can, I can’t, I think I’ll let Him.” This is where the notion of spirituality in academia is awkwardly spoken into existence and demands more emphasis. So many have used their God to lean on for support in times of hardship and also celebration with gratitude, tolerance, acceptance, and forgiveness. When I think of tolerance, I think of “what am I willing to put up with” which gives the word a bad rap. Tolerance transcends into so much more when one takes the time to do to the love work within themselves and with others as one moves from one stage of growth to the next. Tolerance can look like forgiveness with chain linked fence boundaries. The chain linked fence is to see through and beyond the grievance of myself and extend love towards others while holding firm the expectations of myself I have continued to mold through the experience of uncovering my many layers of self. Let’s continue these tolerance dialogues in attempts to fortify our love work within and with each other.

Danielle Frank, Graduate, Eastern Illinois University _____ “[O]btaining a deeper understanding of others who may not think or act like you will allow you to become more aware of their experiences and perspective of things, while also gaining empathy towards them.” Throughout America, there has always been disparity between individuals and groups when it comes to cultural differences. Everyone has their own experiences which often affects their perception of others, which will generally cause a divide throughout America. With that being said, learning how to bridge these divides will allow this country to foster a better understanding of others, promote empathy, reduce conflicts, and build stronger connections with individuals and groups who may have certain differences. Some may ask, “How exactly do I contribute to bridging divides in America?”. Well for starters, it is not as simple as it sounds. This is because a lot of our differences are deeply rooted through generations, and have a strong bias towards certain things. It is not easy to simply go cold turkey and start over on your beliefs and understandings of your own experiences while being in America. Although that is true, with the right mindset and commitment to change, there can be huge progress in the right direction of bridging divides. There are many ways that individuals can begin to put effort into learning how to live together with others who have differences through alliance. Although that is true, two main components of this effort would be educating yourself, and challenging your bias towards your own beliefs. Doing these actions will show that individuals do want to contribute to building these bridges to promote unity in their community and the country. Although these two actions towards bridging a divide in America are just as important as the other, educating yourself is the starting point that individuals should want to follow first. This is because obtaining a deeper understanding of others who may not think or act like you will allow you to become more aware of their experiences and perspective of things, while also gaining empathy towards them. As well as that, it will also give you better insight about their past, culture, and even struggles they have faced while being in America. Challenging your bias towards your own beliefs allows you to be selfless towards others who are not particularly like you. Many people have their own preconceived notions about individuals and their beliefs before having any type of evidence that proves otherwise. This can be a problem because it can lead to stereotyping and the misunderstanding of others. With that being said, challenging your own bias can allow you to recognize what actual bias you have, become more open-minded, and more willing to accept different perspectives others may have. Additionally, challenging your own bias also allows you to gain more empathy towards others as well. As previously mentioned, contributing your part in bridging divides in America may not be as easy as it sounds. While that is true, making the effort to do so is extremely impactful to your community and the country. It is important to know that not everyone is the same nor do they want to be the same as others, but acknowledging their experiences, perspectives, and differences can lead to a more cohesive and balanced society. Being more open to learning about other experiences and perceptions, questioning your own preconceptions, and leading by example can be the starting point of America becoming more cohesive as we live together through our differences.

Blake Sanders, Graduate, TMD Saint Louis University When I hear the word tolerance, I am reminded that tolerance is an action. I believe that it is not just a mindset or an idea to teach others, but an action to show others. Tolerance means refusing to become complacent in a world in which complacency seems safe. My first thought is that tolerance is standing up for people of all genders, races, sexual orientations, and ethnicities. I think that it is becoming easier to support others from the sidelines in today’s world. It is not difficult to share a post on Instagram, retweet a tweet, or like a TikTok. By doing these things, we can tell ourselves that we are standing up for the rights of others, but do these trivial reactions really make an impact? I believe that these reactions are not harmful, but empty. Let us realize that social media is but a step towards real change. It is not enough to say you are in support of something without backing your words up with action. As a gay man, I am thankful for support I have been giving from friends and family. However, what means the most to me is when someone is willing to fight the fight with me. Today, many minority peoples are forced to fight for a voice that others were simply born with. Some people have to fight their way to rooms, jobs, and conversations that others simply walk in to. Because of this, tolerance requires work. We should always be mindful to use the voice that we have in order to bolster the voices of others. Tolerance also means appreciating someone for everything they are. In a world of color blindness and discomfort, I believe that it’s important to see people for who they are. We must work not to strip people of their identities. So often, it is easy to accept that everyone should be treated equally because we are all human. However, we must take another step. We cannot erase unique identities from people. True, everyone person deserves respect for being human, but people should be uniquely seen as full versions of themselves. Racial minorities cannot be erased. Gender stereotypes must be broken down. Xenophobia must be ended. We are all unique people with unique needs and desires. Therefore, I believe that tolerance must involve seeing these differences and celebrating them. Tolerance also means inciting in others a passion for change. Sometimes, this must entail being uncomfortable. In order to stand up for others and celebrate their uniqueness, one must learn to be okay with being uncomfortable. This feeling does not have to be a negative one, but I believe that society is uncomfortable with change. People do not like being told they are wrong. However, this is an essential step to enacting the change required to teach tolerance. Looking back in history, every time there has been a change in the societal dynamics of a time period, people are uncomfortable. This does not mean that change is impossible, but that it may not be easy. Teaching this nation, a nation that rewards self-gain, that looking to the needs and identities of others is essential to moving forward will not be easy. However, until all people, no matter their identity, are given the respect and attention they deserve, again, we must never stop working. #ToleranceMeans that we must never become complacent.

Ojo A. Webb, Kewanee Life Skills Re-Entry Center Freedom is infinite. It is the mother of all happiness and joy. Without freedom, nothing that has life can ever truly live and if it is living, their whole purpose in life is to attain freedom or die trying. Therefore, freedom is essential just like water, food and proper shelter. For example, the essence of fire is heat and the essence of water is wet so, true is it that the essence of true happiness is freedom. Circumstances, environment, and bad choices can lead you not to value it. However, as soon as your freedom is took away from you the realization that it is priceless hits you in the face like a Mack truck. I cannot help but to think about the African American struggle: for freedom from slavery, to Jim Crow, to Civil Rights up until present time. However, the quest for freedom is not unique to one group of people. Every race ethnicity and nationality has struggled for freedom in some shape form or fashion. Therefore, freedom unites us all through a shared experience. Freedom is our identity. Is a fish really a fish if it does not have the freedom to swim? Is a bird really a bird if it does not have the freedom to fly? Are you really you if you do not have the freedom to express yourself? Freedom is a gift from God that comes with responsibility. If you enjoy your freedoms then you should have grace enough to allow other people to enjoy theirs as long as they are not hurting anybody. Freedom is fragile. It has to be cultivated and nourished by tolerance. There should be a tolerance for people's ideas, opinions, and lifestyles. To be a part of a society, where our differences are not just tolerated but celebrated, is the ultimate goal for a truly diverse society. Look at the country that we live in and think of all the different races of people that have helped create and sustain the great nation, which is truly a melting pot that would not exist without diversity. Think about all the music that sprang forth. If not for diversity, there would be no rock and roll, no country and no hip-hop. Look at the movies, food, dance, architecture and medicine. I could go on and on. None of these achievement and advancements could have happened without diversity and freedom. We are all brothers and sisters unique in our own right. We all have hearts that love and brains that think. We are all members of the same society and community that could not function without each other. Different races religions and cultures linked together despite our differences through respect and empathy. Understanding that freedom and diversity goes hand and hand, people are not perfect, life is not always fair but our ideals, and values help us to strive to be better and to do better than the generation before us and to me that is the definition of progress. Looking at everything that is going on in the world right now makes me feel blessed to live in the country that I do. Thinking about that day in Washington D.C. when Dr. King gave his, "I have dream" speech I cannot help but to recognize that it was more than a speech and a dream. It was a prayer. A prayer for freedom for hope that the "Powers That Be" could see that diversity and freedom should not be something to fight against but something to fight for. The fact that that speech resonates today as much as it did in 1963 means that we still have some work to do. However, by looking at the tremendous progress that this country has made, I know that we will make it to the promise land. "LOVE ONE ANOTHER AND EVERYTHING ELSE Will FALL INTO PLACE".

Adisa Wheeler, Kewanee Life Skills Re-Entry Center 1. the quality or state of being free: INDEPENDENCE 2: EXEMPTION, RELEASE 3: EASE, FACILITY 4: FRANKNESS 5: unrestricted use 6: a political right; also: FRANCHISE, PRIVILEGE That is the exact definition for "Freedom" in The Merriam Webster Dictionary, the Home and Office Edition. I feel like the word Freedom can mean different things for different people at different points in their lives. Personally pre-incarceration I really only associated the word Freedom in conversations and movies pertaining to slavery and racism. I started to see the meaning of freedom in a different light after spending year after year incarcerated. When my mind, my body and my spirit started processing the fact that so many things, even the things I realized I took for granted has been stripped from my way of life. So, that's what Freedom meant to me pre­ incarceration. During my incarceration Freedom means; the longing for hope, family, community, peace, a future, a life and to finally have a home. Though I've heard a few incarcerated individuals say, "I might be physically incarcerated but I am mentally free." that could be from their religion, reading books, their imagination or whatever the case-may-be. I'm not going to lie, that's not me. Now, I do have moments where I can block out all the prison noise but I can still feel that I am incarcerated. I believe post-incarceration Freedom will mean; release, family community, ability to breathe and the right to... Right to live. Right to earn a living. Right to be a part of a community. Right to contribute. Right to love. Right to be loved. The right to be giving a chance for the person I am today and not the charge I was convicted of over two decades ago. The right to build a future and the right to so-on-and-so-on. I also know and understand that same Freedom is for everyone. Therefore, people have the right to see and feel about me as they wish. That version of Freedom happened and will happen in all stages of my life pre-incarceration, during incarceration and a high percentage of it happening post-incarceration. And it is my Freedom (right to) be sad, disappointed and hurt by that reaction from others but still have that Freedom to continue moving forward on a positive grounding. I also believe that same Freedom ties in with the importance of having a Diverse society. It is the reason why we are where we are today and the never ending continuance of evolution. People having the Freedom of having different thoughts, different cultures, different upbringings and having different ways of seeing things. Can only happen with a Diverse society. Just imagine a world without Diversity in it. No wheel. No fire. No buildings. No cars. No planes. No electricity. That would mean everybody would be thinking the same and not wanting or having the inspiration for change. No one thinking outside the box. No one thinking to make things better. We have to remember it was not 100% all blacks that helped free us from slavery. Do to the Diversity of the non-blacks way of thinking allowed them to believe that all humans have the right to Freedom. Would we be at the point we are at now without that Diversity in our struggle? Don't get me wrong. I know we as a human race still have some work to do. But without Diversity (non-blacks) Blacks/ African American and us as a whole could be living in a worse society. Then on a different culture level living with Diversity is amazing. Being able to learn from a different group of individuals. Having a conversation with someone who speaks a completely different language. Yet, still be able to understand and communicate with each other on some level, is amazing. We need Diversity to learn, grow, fellowship, be able to problem solve from different angles in order to continue on the path of making our society the best version we can make it. I know my definition/outlook on Freedom and Diversity might seem simple but that's the Freedom (post-incarceration) and Diversity I look forward to as I embark on my new chapter.

Pheng Lor, Graduate, University of Utah November 1, 2023 Tolerance is an act of patience and grace, held in tandem with the hopes for understanding and care. In an ever-evolving society of cultural, religious, and political diversity and difference, tolerance can serve as a pause, an opportunity, for learning, relearning, and growing to better be in relation and community with such diversity and difference. In a world of difference and uniqueness, tolerance is a bridge for knowledge gaps, communication gaps, and gaps that naturally arise with difference. It is an ability that, if carefully and patiently embraced, can serve life lessons and purposes of sympathy, empathy, and care. Tolerance was my mother staring deep into my eyes on a high school weeknight in shock, confusion, and pain. I had just confessed to her that I don’t like girls. In a stern tone, she shares that she doesn’t understand and leaves my room. Tolerance, also, was allowing my mom to feel all that she did in that moment and the days, weeks, and years to follow. On the other hand, tolerance is a lifelong hope that my Hmong refugee and immigrant mother and father could one day accept and realize I’m still the son they were once so proud of. Multiple worlds, Laos, then Thailand refugee camps, and now America, fostered unimaginable change to my parents. Being gay didn’t seem to exist before, and, therefore, it must be a phase, not an identity, not significant. Being gay wasn’t Hmong, it wasn’t Shamanism, and it had never been a part of their world. While at fifteen and discovering that there are others like me out there, at school, everywhere, I could no longer deny who I am. If anyone asked me at eight years old or even thirteen if I was gay, which was a question I was asked from what seemed to be the age of five, I would immediately deny it. I tolerated that question from childhood until my teenage years. That question haunted me. And to my parents, me being gay, haunted them. Despite such fear, lack of understanding, and even anger, my parents and I, with time and giving each other grace, allowed ourselves to sit in these tensions separately, together, to see where it would take us. Tolerance isn’t always easy, but it can teach us the greatest lesson in life if we allow it to. Tolerance is essential to a growth mindset. It allowed my parents to move beyond judgment and toward deeper care for me, even if that took ten years. Tolerance allowed me to let a part of my identity I had been suppressing for so long, in. Tolerance allows for the complexities of the world, of people and differences, to better make sense, together.

Kimball Yeates, Undergraduate, Brigham Young University November 1, 2023 When Abraham Lincoln gave the “Gettysburg Address”, a two-minute speech that has been immortalized in history, the country was divided. The United States was not divided by de-facto political lines but solidified boundary lines as the country split into two. Lincoln’s speech outlined fundamental principles of freedom, unity, and the idea that “all men are created equal.” These important principles were outlined to advocate for Lincoln’s goal that the United States “shall not perish from the earth.” Tolerance and compromise in the face of conflict are absolutely essential to Lincoln’s message, as his words tried to unify a divided country.  Divisiveness is not a new concept in America. As a history major, I have studied hundreds of years of divisiveness, lack of tolerance, and injustice perpetuated toward many different groups of people across centuries. When looking at history through the lens of the present, a lack of tolerance when it should have been championed is visible, from the Civil Rights movement to European interactions with Native Americans. Studying the past is an important aspect of looking toward the future, and evidence from throughout history is indicative of the importance of tolerating different groups, ideas,  When I voted for the first time, I stood with my parents in a dusty Presbyterian church. It was a primary election and the woman working the poll booth asked what ballot I would like.  “Democrat,” I said. Both of my parents asked for Republican ballots.  “How did that happen?” the woman asked.  “I wish I knew,” my father said.  People who have drastically different views than me are not some separated group I rarely interact with. Oftentimes, they are the people we are closest to. Having differing political views from my parents has taught me the importance and often the necessity of tolerance. Tolerance does not mean separation; it does not mean ignoring and being completely distinct from those who have differing views or opinions. Engaging in respectful, meaningful dialogue with those who have different views is important in reaching common ground and expanding our own worldviews. While it might be easier to ignore controversial and divisive issues such as gun control or abortion, discussing these issues is essential to promoting tolerance for both sides.  The goal of tolerance is not to convince someone with a different opinion to believe you. It is to reach a common understanding and mutual respect for those who are different. Understanding the unique experiences and perspectives that contribute to their ideas is significant and brings people together rather than tears them apart. In a country that might not be divided by boundary lines but is certainly divided by political and ideological lines, tolerance is essential to the well-being of our country. Just as Abraham Lincoln advocated for a nation of unity in a highly divisive period of history, tolerance can help bring together people when divisiveness is threatening to tear them apart.

Sarah Johns, Graduate, Brigham Young University November 1, 2023 Bridging divides in America today is not only possible but well within our reach. Although many say that this is the most divisive time in the history of this nation, I feel optimistic about the future. I believe that we already possess everything that we need to bridge divides. There is no special formula or charismatic leader necessary to change the American narrative, all that we need are willing and able Americans to step up to the plate of compassion and love. My journey as a peacemaker in the LGBTQ+/religious divide happened quite accidentally. I am very openly religious so I never would have guessed that there was space for me to lead on issues surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. The opportunity to be involved in this sacred way came through sincere relationships with members of the LGBTQ+ community and from these relationships grew understanding and a desire to make space for these friends in all places. I decided to use my leadership in law school to create a platform for LGBTQ+ peacemakers. Doing so has helped to foster compassion and relationship building between religious individuals, religious LGBTQ+ individuals, and non-religious LGBTQ+ individuals. There was nothing revolutionary about these efforts, they all stemmed naturally from genuine relationships. I argue that the solution to divides in the US are sincere relationships created by proximity to one another. Though great leaders may inspire us to get proximate with one another, the solution lies with each of us, the people. Bridging divides starts in our homes, neighborhoods, schools, churches, and hearts. Bridging divides happens when good people get to know each other and do what it takes to love one another. It does not require retreat from the ground of one’s deeply held beliefs, instead, it requires that we entreat each other to love through our differences. I am confident that the world is full of good people who are capable of this important feat. In my experience at BYU Law, when people are given the chance to step up with compassion, they do so in mass. Though we live in a society often defined by sides, stances, and what feel are all-or-nothing choices, we, the people, can change this reality. We can choose not to make important issues mutually exclusive by improving our understanding that each person possesses unique value systems and that that is not only okay but adds important diversity to our society. Understanding, when it is truly mutual, sponsors the kind of love and compassion that will bridge divides. I have faith in good people and trust that as we get proximate with one another, the divides between us will heal as we bandage them with compassion, understanding, and love.

Almas Shaikh, Graduate, University of Oxford Tolerance is often relegated to the backseat in a legal context. The word conjures images of begrudgingly enduring oppositional values, instead of wholehearted acceptance of different strands of thought. As a lawyer and a law student who is constantly grappling with concepts of equality and dignity on a regular basis, tolerance has been low on my radar of legal and personal values. Why do I need to rely on tolerance, when principles of equality, dignity and other rights would serve a better purpose? However, through the years, I have realised that a naïve dependence on only legal concepts such as equality, liberty or dignity has severely limited application without a bona fide application of tolerance. I, therefore, argue that tolerance carries immense value in the form of fraternity, solidarity and dialogue. Dr Ambedkar, a legal philosopher and key draftsman of India’s Constitution evaluated the value of fraternity: “Without fraternity, liberty and equality could not become a natural course of things. It would require a constable to enforce them.” Nevertheless, there cannot be a complete realisation of fraternity without tolerance. Fraternity is a way to relate and bring together plurality of opinions. Without a tolerant approach, fraternity’s goal of pluralism would break down. Tolerance is, thus, a subterranean value that upholds fraternity. Similarly, fraternity cannot be practiced in vacuum. It goes hand-in-hand with solidarity – whether it is jurisprudential, institutional and community-based. Solidarity is an important legal principle which recognises the social value of sharing human experiences. Within the European Union, Prof. Guido Alpa argues that solidarity is a normative principle, endowed with philosophical and moral significance, which can be used to realise socio-economic rights. Solidarity is buttressed with tolerance – an understanding that despite the myriad encounters among different groups and individuals, our humanity is a bigger shared goal that needs to be upheld and respected. Using fraternity and solidarity together ensures open dialogue. United Nations has recognised that promoting fraternity and solidarity is bolstered through dialogue. This provides an antidote to hate and divisive rhetoric; to censorship and violations of free speech and expression. We need tolerance in receiving and reciprocating different, often opposing, ideas. It provides the space to exchange viewpoints, in the belief that they will be received in good faith. Most confrontations could be solved outside the courtroom using tolerance – with a healthy dose of solidarity, fraternity and dialogue. Solidarity, fraternity and dialogue are important tools within law, morality and philosophy – however, none of these values will be half as strong without the underpinning of tolerance holding up these values. Recognising tolerance as a legal value is also imperative to maintain the strength of tolerance. It is not a mere idealistic vision, or an altruistic choice. It can be used to bridge relations, strengthen legal values and build a cohesive society. For me, tolerance means the ability to realise solidarity, fraternity and dialogue – the cornerstones of any democratic and liberal society.

Cameron Samuel Keys, Undergraduate, University of Oxford My grandmother left Sri Lanka in 1965 to start her life in England. 51 years later I was shocked to discover that she had voted to leave the European Union, primarily because she viewed levels of migration as too high. I was even more shocked to discover that in 2017, she, a lifelong Labour voter, voted for the Tories, because she feared a Corbyn government. It took me a long time to comprehend her decisions. Simply put, I viewed her as an immigrant and a person of colour and didn’t understand why her politics didn’t match. I tell this story to illustrate how the modern view of intersectionality places individuals in boxes built around their personal characteristics rather than considering how different parts of their identity impact their unique experience of the world. The modern view has departed significantly from the ideas set out by Kimberlé Crenshaw and bell hooks. I will conclude that while intersectionality can improve our law by providing an alternative to ‘a single story’, this is contingent on a return to a traditional conception of the term. In her 1989 article, Crenshaw coined the term intersectionality to explain why feminism was failing to address the concerns of black women. In short, the inability to consider the cumulative impacts of sex and race, which she argues are greater than the sum of their parts, meant that feminism in its current form would continue to largely address the needs of white middle-class women. hooks developed this theory, notably stating that “I will not have my life narrowed down. I will not bow down to somebody else's whim or to someone else's ignorance.” This statement encapsulates what was meant by intersectionality, that every person is impacted by the nuances of their life, and a failure to understand means a failure to create impactful change. The modern view of intersectionality focuses far more on a person’s identity. This can be seen in the coverage of Suella Braverman’s firing as Home Secretary. In the BBC’s summary of her political career, they make consistent reference to the fact she is the daughter of migrants, contrasting this with her political stance on the level of migration to the UK. Similarly, in the 2020 US presidential campaign Joe Biden said “'If you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for me or Trump, then you ain’t black'. This inability to reconcile identity with politics is a failure of the modern view of intersectionality and suggests a departure from a Crenshaw/hooks view of the term. Instead of viewing groups as whole people, it appears we are viewed as simply an extension of identifiable markers: being a daughter of migrants or a person of colour. Fundamentally the value of intersectional thought is that it forces us to view individuals as complex, conflicted and often confusing people whose views do not necessarily line up our view of their ‘identities’. Tolerance, if nothing else, must mean tolerance of others who do not act or think or see the world in the way we expect them to. Unless the law recognises what Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie calls the ‘danger of a single story’, intersectional thought will not be able to improve our laws, instead further sowing the division and friction it aims to undo.

Anthony Campus, Undergraduate, St. Mary's College of California People often fear discussing politics at dinner tables or workplaces, and society has deemed it taboo. A pervasive fear surrounds the topic of politics, as people believe that talking about it will lead to controversy and arguments between friends or family. Many may not realize it, but it is ingrained in our society that politics equates to anger and hate. The mere mention of the word "politics" has built such a negative connotation that it attracts fearful glances, anticipating what might follow. Hate rushes through people's emotions when they hear someone oppose their views. On this very campus, I've witnessed firsthand the impact of political discussions on people and a hostility that I never thought I'd see in person. When the Roe v. Wade decision was overturned, the United States descended into a chaos of protests and uproar. Saint Mary's was no exception to this. I will never forget the day when a student club was tabling about pro-life ideas and was confronted by pro-choice students. The confrontation escalated immediately; there was no friendliness or compromise. They viewed each other as enemies, dehumanizing one another. Flyers were torn and stolen, and the quad resounded with yelling and hateful words. I was shocked, and so was much of the school. After that day, I decided I wanted to do something to prevent such incidents from happening on campus again. Then, in perfect timing, BridgeUSA came into my life. BridgeUSA is a nonprofit organization that creates spaces on college campuses for open discussion between students about political issues. With their help, Andrew Melendez and I established something new but truly necessary on our campus: a safe place where people can engage in humanizing discussions about politics. When we attempted to start our chapter, we encountered skepticism, with people thinking we were a pro-Republican club. With this assumption, some sought to have our club denied, for fear of the ideas we might spread. Yet our chapter was founded entirely with the goal of breaking the societal connotation of politics, aiming to eliminate hate, arguments, and fear. Through our actions, we bridged a divide that was previously unknown to me. Staunch conservatives and even stauncher liberals engaged in meaningful conversations. These discussions became opportunities to listen, truly listen, rather than just respond. That is tolerance. Tolerance means humanizing your opposition, engaging in conversations instead of arguments with those who oppose your beliefs. It doesn't mean becoming best friends with them; the true purpose is endeavoring to meet at a place of understanding. How can you achieve that if all you see is a faction, a set of beliefs, or opposition, instead of seeing them as, well, a person? It all starts with asking why. Why do Republicans believe in certain things? Why do Democrats support specific policies? Let's talk about it. Even as we begin to play with the idea of fostering tolerance within our campus, tolerance must be taught through action and advocacy of understanding. None of us alone can bring tolerance to this campus but it is in the populous, it is us together as a whole, that can forge a tolerant society through the humanization of those we may consider as “opposition”. 0 Likes

Nash Anderson, Graduate, St. Mary's College of California To me tolerance is a mindset and a lifestyle. The question is how do we embody tolerance? I believe it comes down to a simple yet difficult action; having open dialog - a conversation where individuals open their mind and heart to the world around them. Conversations can easily be clouded with biases, values, and ignorance. These divisions lead to individuals and groups not understanding others, not listening, or being excluded which perpetuate injustices around the globe for many communities. However, listening and learning from the world requires guiding principles in fostering these essential connections. I found the most effective standards, known as Brave Space, while working at the Saint Mary’s College of California Intercultural Center (IC) on several community events. The first principle is Controversy with Civility. This phrase indicates there are numerous diverse perspectives on a single subject, many of which hold some value or validity. Even though individuals or groups may not share the same perspective, everyone tries understanding why these differences, similarities, and intersections exist. The second principle is Owning your Intention and Your Impact. What a person says or does has an impact on the world they may not have intended. The important thing is owning the intention and impact while learning from it, decreasing the chance of repeating the same divide in the future. Third is Challenge by Choice, referring to how all people participate in discussions and events differently, but it is important for everyone to get out of their comfort zones so that many voices can be heard. If someone is usually quiet, they should speak more often; if a person talks most of the time in a conversation, they should take a step back and listen more. These personal participation regulations allow potentially unheard ideas to have time in the space. Fourth is No Attacks, where people should not attack a person or group over an action or statement, but rather question and unpack it until understanding and removal of hate are achieved. Lastly Respect is an essential concept for carrying out the previous principles in conversation and interaction. Polarization is caused by people clutching opposing viewpoints without listening to or understanding other perspectives, but Brave Space overcomes this obstacle. I worked with the IC and diversity groups on numerous events and initiatives to improve our society with these guiding principles. Whether it was an information session on Critical Race Theory or a potluck with food from numerous cultural communities, a world where all voices are heard in a sincere symphony of tolerance is possible. My mission is helping and learning from communities facing discrimination based on ethnicity, sexuality, gender, and more. This desire to protect human rights comes from economic and political microaggressions for years and is propelled by advice from my mother: “Have courage and be kind.” It takes courage to leap into action against injustices and kindness for listening and working with others. We should not be talking at each other; we should be talking with each other. #ToleranceMeansWeHaveBraveSpaces