Tolerance Essay by Hannah (age 13)

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.” This means hatred makes life absolutely depressing and gloomy but love makes it happy and joyful. There was a time when if you were black you had to use different facilities than white people. Also when Hitler did not tolerate Jews he actually hated them and thought they were wrong, even though it was their opinion of their religion. There are still times today when people are not tolerated, for example when people get bullied for their religion, skin color or the way they act.

In the past, black people had to use different restrooms, water fountains and schools than white people. It was just not fair at all. Black people could not help their skin color, but still they were discriminated against. Many white people would not tolerate black people sharing things with them. Although this has changed now, back then it was a terrible and depressing time for America. Martin Luther King Jr. stepped up and made his speech on equal rights, so that people began to notice that all people are the same no matter what their skin color is. They are all humans. Now the government says that we should tolerate all people because they have equal rights.

Another dark time in the world was when Hitler did not tolerate the Jews for their religion. Instead, he made them go to the camps and eventually they were going to be thrown into gas chambers. This is just plain wrong, for it was their personal religion. We should not discriminate based on religion. Hitler’s hatred killed a lot of people and it didn’t help him to become a better person. Eventually Hitler died. Now regulations in Germany and many places in the world say that you cannot discriminate against someone for their religion. This makes the world a happier place. However, in some places people may not discriminate against Jews, but they may do it to people of other religions.

Even though there have been many improvements, some people have still found a way to discriminate against people who are not like them. For example, some people in schools these days bully against their fellow classmates for their religion, skin color or the way they act, such as if they are mentally ill or have a disability. This problem can be solved if people get in trouble for bullying or realize we are all equal because we are all humans.

As you can see from what has happened in the past and from what’s happening right now, change can happen easily enough. If people realize that hatred or intolerance makes life depressing and gloomy, but love or tolerance makes it happy and joyful, then people won’t be discriminated against or bullied. This will make life better for all people.