[hr-education] Re: Human rights/children's rights values

Tolerance is a complex phrase which can be used in a negative context, to
tolerate meaning to put up with. However it can be considered a value even
in these terms when applied to, for instance, political views we dislike
but accept as rightfully existing or being expressed. No-one would expect
political enemies to have to like each others political views. When this
sort of thinking is moved to culture it is much more tricky as there is a
desire to be open to others and other ways of living. I rather like the
phrase understanding, tolerance and friendship which is often used in UN
HRE documents. It suggests a plane of direction and the multifaceted
dimension of the encounter between cultures. Understanding is not enough
on its own because comprehension can be accompanied by prejudice and
hostility, tolerance on its own seems to suggest a distance between groups
but with friendship as well, a more positive dynamic is created. Perhaps
these values need to be taken only as part of a dynamic.

I am always struck by the fact that I find it a challenge to go back and
stay with my parents, whom I love dearly. I really do have to tolerate
things about them which I find challenging and sometimes disagreeable, but
I still love them (the dog rules the house for instance). My love does not
obscure irritation and for this reason I need tolerance among my virtues.
Tolerance alone, however, would not do. If this is the case for those I
know, am close to, and am similar to, then it must also be the case for
others. In another context, sometimes when I see an old couple who have
lived their life together in love - it is apparent that they know each
other, are friends with each other and have learnt to put up with the
annoying little habits. If good marriages, and happy families require
tolerance, perhaps interculturalism or multiculturalism, or whatever we
want to call needs tolerance too.

Bob Bowie 
Faculty of Education 
Canterbury Christ Church University 
UK 



On 25 September 2006, Michael Kerr wrote: 

> Wim et al - I'll try to look for a more fully elaborated list - but

> just a quick response to your query. I would certainly take issue with 
> your having included "tolerance" in your short-list of values, let 
> alone one to which we should collectively aspire!? 
> 
> Though through much of our multilateral work we're very much saddled 
> with "tolerance" being articulated as a value or principle of merit - 
> I believe it is so only because that is the barest mimimum to which

> diverse state-parties could agree - and found therefore across an all 
> too broad a range of national and international human rights and 
> related instruments!! 
> 
> Anywhere "tolerance" of diversity is named as a value, objective or
> goal - we in fact should aspire to "awareness, understanding, 
> appreciation and welcoming" of that diversity. We should in fact be
> working at every opportunity to expunge this terminology whenever and 
> wherever it may be found !! 
> 
> We "tolerate" things that we'd rather not have anything to do with - 
> given the choice - but that we in fact have no choice but to cope with 
> and accept - certainly not a very healthy and/or sustainable 
> position!! 
> 
> My quick thought - Michael. 
> 
> Michael Kerr 
> Coordinator 
> Karuna Community Services 
> # 310 - 15 Maitland Place 
> Toronto, Ontario M4Y 2X3 
> Canada 
>
> 
> ----- Original Message ---- 
> 
> Dear colleagues, 
> 
> It is clear that human rights standards (and children's rights 
> standards) are underpinned by values, which we could name 'human 
> rights values', respectively 'children's rights values'. It is clear 
> as well that respect for diversity, equality, tolerance, freedom and 
> solidarity are examples of such values. 
> 
> Human rights education, in our understanding, is not only education
> about and for (and through) human rights in the legal sense of the 
> term, but also education for human rights values, which are applicable 
> in daily life. This raises the question: which are those 'human rights 
> values' (or 'children's rights values'). 
> 
> What we are looking for now is a list of such human rights values or 
> children's rights values which has a solid base (this means: a list
> which is more than just intuitively compiled but grounded in some 
> resarch work). 
> 
> We would be very grateful if you could help us. 
> 
> Many thanks in advance 
> 
> Wim Taelman 
> 
> Wim Taelman (coordinator) 
> VORMEN vzw (Flemish Organisation for Human Rights Education) Lange 
> Gasthuisstraat 29 B-2000 Antwerpen 
> (Belgium) 
> www.vormen.org 





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