Refinding respect, tolerance

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Is it all right to be wrong?

Global warming along with Covid must rate as two of the most significant and controversial world events in recent memory.

Nothing new in that, as the world is satiated with controversy.

What does stand out for me this time around is the increasing lack of tolerance and respect for opposing views, no matter what side of the fence you sit on.

To ponder a world lacking appropriate lashings of respect and tolerance, is a world I’m not sure I like living in.

No, I am not encouraging people to take a nihilistic approach and response, but I am promoting the need for a deeper and more thoughtful reply that doesn’t automatically group with the mainstream, status-quo thinking and narrative.

The dictionary defines respect as due regard for the feelings, wishes or rights of others. Likewise, tolerance is defined as the ability or willingness to tolerate the existence of opinions or behaviour that one dislikes or disagrees with.

Now, that is the kind of world I can warm to and embrace. What about you?

Russell Tolley