The Tenor of Tolerance

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According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, tolerance is defined as “sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own.” The promotion of tolerance as a value is a leading argument for the protection of speech under the First Amendment. With today’s political divisiveness, however, some are starting to question the legitimacy of this value, because it allows hatred and stupidity to be spewed from the mouths of our citizens, including some of our elected officials. (See Free Speech has Failed Us). 


As much as the tweet to the right goes against all my instincts of civility, we need to tolerate it as a free exercise of speech. The importance of tolerance for differing views was initially argued by John Stuart Mill. In his essay entitled, “On Liberty (1869), Mill encourages diversity of thought, opinion and speech in the marketplace. Allowing people to challenge each other will, in
the end, result in a better society. Respect for different opinions is key and needs to be protected. (See Tolerance Theory)

1869 is a long time ago. Perhaps John Mill’s ideas are a bit outdated and do not apply to our modern world. I disagree, and so does Facebook’s founder, Marl Zuckerberg. In a speech at Georgetown University, Zuckerberg recently defended the exercise of all free-speech, including hateful and personally offensive speech, on the grounds of tolerance theory. He stated, “Democracy depends on the idea we hold each others’ right to express ourselves…you can’t impose tolerance top-down” (See In His Defense of Free Expression, Mark Zuckerberg Spoke an Important Truth).

In today’s world, tolerance can be uncomfortable. I personally have little patience for people whose views are hateful and biased based upon difference. But tolerance is key to a truly free and democratic society where voice is respected and encouraged.

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