Definitional essay on Tolerance

"Greetings, I am pleased to see that we are different. May we together become greater than the sum of both of us." This Vulcan greeting from the television show Star Trek positively expresses the idea of tolerance. Tolerance, as defined by Webster's Online Dictionary, is the endurance of the presence or actions of objectionable persons, or of the expression of offensive opinions; the capacity to, or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs of others. The meaning of tolerance is often used in our culture to describe accepting people as they are, regardless of race, creed, or religious beliefs. Although there is a general positive intention on behalf of those who use the term tolerance to describe this act, it can also be taken negatively as well. Tolerance is often classified in two manners, positively (as in equality, unprejudiced) and negatively (as in merely putting up with the differences of others).
"What is toleration? It is the prerogative of humanity. We...