Toleration in matters of politics, religion, and ethnic feeling is the only true alternative to violence and the rule of fear. The full creative potential of Iraqis, in which we deeply believe, will only be realized when toleration burns as fiercely in individual hearts and minds as it does in the new constitution of Iraq. The only acceptable constraints upon toleration are those imposed by the rule of law as secured by a constitution founded on human rights. Toleration will not be extended to those who would abolish its rule through violence. And toleration does not mean the gross violations of human rights from the past will be forgotten.
Toleration is a solution to the fact of ethnic, religious, political and human differentiation.
At bottom, it entails finding ways of accommodating or putting up with such differences. It involves putting up with things that one does not actually like, and may even consider immoral. We choose to tolerate other individuals, organizations, religions, ideas, sects, or ethnic groups, because we realize that there is a much higher value in forbearance than there is trying to eradicate difference. Toleration is a value superior to loyalty of blood or common heritage. It is superior to ritual nationalist affirmation.