2002 Theme: The United States has been called the “great melting pot.” Especially in times of crisis, we are not so tolerant of all our residents. Consider the cases of the Japanese-Americans, German-Americans and African-Americans, all who have suffered extreme prejudice in this country. With recent worldwide terrorist attacks and resulting fears within our country, many people are finding the United States a less tolerant place to live. What do you think would be the most peaceful solution to restore tolerance for all? How?

Peace Essay

by Zoey Jones
Lopez Island, Washington

In 1951, as McCarthy’s witch hunt for communists swept through America, my grandfather was working in the Botany Department at the University of Berkeley, California. He was ordered to sign a loyalty oath declaring he was not a Communist. He did not believe in Communism, but he also disagreed with the totalitarian actions of the U.S. government and therefore refused to sign the oath because of his own principles. He lost his job.

It is a reality that during times of crisis people become fearful. Unfortunately throughout history, due to misguided attempts to find security and peace of mind, this fear has resulted in increased incidences of hate crime, suppression of entire groups of people, and the persecution of the innocent, such as my grandfather. Sadly, the loss of one’s job is often a small price to pay for non-conformity during periods of crisis. In addition, the supposed danger is often exaggerated and the citizens’ fears played upon so that the governing body can accomplish its own objectives. In America this has repeated repeatedly meant using a perceived threat to justify restricting constitutional rights and subjugating those who voice dissent. A precedent for intolerance during times of crisis has been set in the United States; it is sad, unnecessary, and the means to stop this tradition lie within our country’s most valued institution, education.

During my scholastic career I have discovered that the class which centers more on developing students’ ability to think freely and critically than on memorization of facts, is the exception and not the rule. We are taught to read, yet not taught to examine what we read. We are taught to write, yet not to think creatively of something to write about. We are trained to accept what we hear instead of question it, and too often encouraged to see the world through the eyes of others instead of through our own. In history we memorize dates, names, ranks and locations, yet have little opportunity to discuss the greater implications of the many people and events summarized in our enormous textbooks. Additionally, most schooling takes place in a conventional classroom, although it is often in a foreign and more challenging environment where students are the most likely to expand mentally and grow to better understand themselves. Furthermore, the most important thing to be learned, tolerance, is often the last priority. After all, the SAT does not test for compassion.

The positive impact of tolerance education, specifically community service, is widely accepted and publicized. The United Nation’s Resolution article #4 states: “Education is the most effective means of preventing intolerance…it is necessary to promote systematic and rational tolerance teaching methods that will address the cultural, social, economic, political and religious sources of intolerance and the major roots of violence and exclusion.” The relationship between prejudice and poor education has also been proved. The Fall, 1991 issue of School Safety cites, “States that lead the nation in hate crimes are at the bottom in terms of spending for education.” Despite the general consensus that tolerance education is an essential step towards creating a more just and compassionate environment in the United States, the focus in our nation’s schools lies elsewhere.

There are two factors that must be addressed when considering how to reduce prejudice in times of crisis through education. First, youth must be instilled with a respect for those who are different from them. The capacity to look beyond stereotypes, and an underlying understanding that we are all entitled to the same rights under the U.S. constitution no matter the current political or social situation, is essential. Second, youth must possess the ability to critically analyze, rather than unquestioningly accept, the events that occur and rhetoric that bombards them during times of crisis.

Finding the best method to successfully teach tolerance is a difficult task. It is one I have seen the administration at my own school struggle with. The fact that the federal government is currently cutting education spending rather than increasing it does not make the job any easier. I cannon claim to be an expert on the subject, but as a student I can offer insight into those methods I think work best. From my own experiences I have come to believe that service learning and cultural exchange are at the top of this list. The time I have spent volunteering both in the U.S. and abroad has changed the way I see the world, fueled by desire to lead a socially responsible and proactive life, and greatly increased my empathy for others. I have witnessed many of my peers experience the same changes. In a 1996 Gallup survey teens said the most common benefits they receive from volunteering are: “Learning to respect others, learning to understand people who are different from them, developing leadership skills, and a better understanding of good citizenship.” The same survey also found that youth who volunteer are three times more likely to volunteer when they are adults.

The belief that intolerance and prejudice can be abolished simply by replacing conventional teaching methods with more alternative ones is idealistic. It is one thing to make the argument, but quite another to successfully enact it. Yet when I try to think of a cause more imperative than teaching tolerance, I come up empty-handed. There is nothing more important than the respect we give each other as human beings. It is sad that so often during times of crisis this respect is forgotten. Although effective tolerance educating is a difficult task, I believe it is one worth the time, energy and money it would take to achieve. It seems to be that it should be the priority of America’s educators, parents and politicians. I hope there comes a day when it is.