Easy to tolerate a person who is just like you, same background, opinions, and behaviors. However, a person of a different ethnic group, native country, religion, political opinions, or types of behavior may stretch your tolerance level. Anyone can say, "Live and let live, as long as you're not hurting anyone." But then we may have subconscious bias, stereotyping, prejudice, and misinformation lurking in our brain that we need to address before tolerance can be real.
Diversity in our schools, neighborhoods, workplaces, and what we see and hear in the media can obviously improve our understanding and tolerance of those that are different than we are. Focusing on our similarities can make the differences less important.
Our democracy gives us many freedoms and limits certain behaviors not tolerated and even punished. By our votes, we can influence the law. Citizens have various opinions but the majority rules. Religions also promote what they think should and should not be tolerated. Other interest groups try to persuade us to think about issues.
You don't have to agree with people to tolerate them, but just respect them to have their own opinions. Be sure you really think about what and why you have some things you will not tolerate.
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