Tolerance means respecting the way of thinking, acting and speaking of others

Tolerance means respecting the way of thinking, acting and speaking of others
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 16, 2012

As part of the National Strategy for a Society with Values, Good for you, your values make the country better! (¡Bien por ti, tus valores hacen un mejor país!),the Office of the First Lady (DPD for its acronym in Spanish) introduced Tolerance as the tenth principleor core value of the campaign, whose slogan promotes people as part of the solution and not of the problem, while inviting them to be gracious and helpful with their words, deeds and feelings.

She stated that the campaign slogan is: you are part of the solution, and not of the problem. “Tolerance is the attitude of a person with respect to that which is different from his / her values or beliefs,” underscored Mrs. Suriel.

The keynote address was delivered by Mrs. Altagracia Suriel, Director of Social Programs in the Office of the First Lady, who emphasized that today is a very special day because, more than launching the slogan on the core value of tolerance, the purpose of the gathering was to invite all citizens to practice tolerance during every second andinstantof every day and in every actionof their daily lives.

She stated that the campaign slogan is: you are part of the solution, and not of the problem. “Tolerance is the attitude of a person with respect to that which is different from his / her values or beliefs,” underscored Mrs. Suriel.

She emphasized that,at present,it is necessary to focus on all levels of tolerance, especially on socialtolerance, which is nothing more than the respect fortheideas, beliefs and practicesof others,when they are different from one’s own, and abidingby the rules of others, with a view to achieving a healthy and harmonious coexistence.

The Director of Social Project stated that the Office of the First Lady, and Dr. Margarita Cedeño de Fernández herself, who is the mentor and director of the strategy Good for you!,invite allcitizensto practice tolerance. “We emphasize that being tolerant does not mean being indifferent; tolerance means mutual respect and,at its highest level,understanding even when not sharing the sameset of values.”

Mrs. Altagracia Suriel asked everyone, officials, guests and especially the press, to continue supporting the strategy so that these principlesguide the lives andthe actions of the Dominican people.

Additionally, Monsignor Benito Angeles offered a message of reflection on tolerance.He stated that it is both a moral and civic virtue as well as an attitude to withstand the acts of others, a means of appreciating the different ways of valuing life, provided that these do not violate the fundamental rights ofthe person, and of learning to be inclusive and embracing, with the capacity to listen and to accept the legitimate pluralism of social, cultural and religious opinions.

Within the framework of this event, a video was screened on the activities that are included in the National Strategy for a Society with Values, and the new campaign slogan on Tolerance was launched.  So far,the core values that have been addressed by the campaign are:??honesty, solidarity, responsibility, faith, social justice, dignity, love for one’s neighbor, peace and tolerance.

She emphasized that in order for toleranceto have the strength of a core value, it is necessary that it includes four ethical and inalienablecriteria, among which are the commitment to a culture of non-violence and respect for life, the commitment to a culture of solidarity and to an economic order that is just, the commitment to a culture of tolerance and to a lifestyle that is honest and truthful, and the commitment to a culture of equal rights and camaraderie between men and women.

The practice of tolerance helps to respect the freedoms and the rights of others, even when they are different or contrary to ours. Tolerance ispracticed when one accepts the differences that exist among the members of one’s family while creatingan atmosphere of trust and peace among them, thus achieving a better society in which to live.

Within the framework of this event, a video was screened on the activities that are included in the National Strategy for a Society with Values, and the new campaign slogan on Tolerance was launched.  So far,the core values that have been addressed by the campaign are:??honesty, solidarity, responsibility, faith, social justice, dignity, love for one’s neighbor, peace and tolerance.

The main objective of the campaign “Good for you!” is to promotea culture of good behavior and interaction among the population, at all levels of society -family, social and political as economic levels- and by a diversity of means. With this strategy, the First Lady, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, intends for the Dominican people to revive the flame that drives them to the idea of ??creating a better future as a country and as a nation.

Details of the strategy

In October 2010, the Office of the First Lady launched the strategy on core values denominated Good for you!, which is part of the vision and mission of this institution and seeks to have an impact on and to encourage the Dominican nation to rescue the moral, ethical and spiritual valuesthat define it.

This strategy also seeks to influence the educational system to provide training and to promote ??education on values or principles in children and young people through churches, social movements, unions, universities and non-governmental organizations, among other agencies.

The National StrategyGood for you! promotescorevalues through advertisements that are disseminated in all media, including radio and television. Advertisementswill also be transmitted throughchurches, communities belonging to the ProgresandoProgram, supermarkets, schools, and shops, and other public places. To learn more about the campaign please visit the website www.bienporti.org.