Why Tolerance is Our Only Choice
Tolerance seems to be the catch-word of the day. Magazines, newspapers and the evening news bring us stories touting the importance of tolerance and diversity, but the question remains whether mainstream America truly understands how to put it into practice in their lives. Fortunately, there are a variety of resources and lessons plans available to teach tolerance.
By definition, tolerance is the ability to look fairly and objectively at the views of others – views that you may not hold yourself. At its core, tolerance is the absence of bigotry.
Like many people, you might ask why you should tolerate something you don’t agree with. And this illustrates the most common misconception of tolerance. It does not mean accepting an opposing viewpoint as something that is true or right; it simply means accepting that another person has the right to their opinion as well.
Perhaps you hate the idea of bright yellow houses. When your neighbor paints his a neon shade of sunshine, you don’t have to love his choice to tolerate it. You can still hate the idea of yellow houses while still accepting that your neighbor has a right to paint his house whatever color he wants.
The same can be said for any number of other issues facing our world today. Religious tolerance and racial tolerance are a few of the challenges facing our communities today. Steps must be taken to teach the tolerance that will create peaceful communities where all can work and live in harmony. Just as you have no right to paint over your neighbor’s yellow house, no one has a right to dictate to others their beliefs.
When you learn tolerance, you learn how to civilly disagree with someone else while still respecting their right to their opinion. A number of diversity programs and lessons plans are available to teach these important skills to people of every walk of life. Diversity lessons don’t need to be dry or boring. With just a little research, you can find fun and imaginative programs designed with your group in mind.
Whether you are teaching tolerance to College Students or need to host a seminar for a business group, everyone can benefit from the lessons of tolerance and diversity. And when we take these lessons to heart, our communities and nation benefit as well.
Zohra Sarwari is one of the nation’s foremost Muslim women speakers. She has been featured at numerous seminars and conferences. Her talks combine humor with the real-world perspective of a Muslim living in America’s Midwest. A published author, Mrs. Sarwari has written extensively on the subjects of tolerance, diversity and the truth behind the Islamic religion.
Does Islam Oppress Women?
“ A male gynecologist is like an auto mechanic who has never owned a car. “ ~Carrie Snow
As I read this quote I smiled realizing how true this was. I could never understand how a man could possibly understand what we women go through. Just as I don’t understand how men could understand what we women experience, I can’t understand where people who don’t practice a certain faith, or have depth knowledge about it, make assumptions about it. Living in the States, it is wonderful in many ways. We have freedom of Religion, Freedom of Speech, and Freedom to be who we are.
However, with that freedom comes many dangers, such as making judgment calls about other people’s faith. This can be dangerous regardless of whose faith it is. This is how this article has been founded. Many times people will tell me, that Islam oppresses women. I start to smile at that comment, because I realize that what is common knowledge to me is not so common to everyone else.
Does Islam Oppress Women? No Islam actually liberates women. You might ask how? Below I have written 5 ways that Islam liberates women:
- Islam gave women the right to inherit 1400 years ago!
- Islam gives the woman the choice to pick her husband.
- Islam let’s the woman keep all of her money when she works, her father, brothers, or husband is to take care of all of her needs. (So she is spoiled and treated like a princess)
- Islam treats the women equal to the men. She is judged by her piety, good deeds, and righteousness like any other human being.
- Islam asks a Muslim Woman to wear the hijab only because she is a pearl, and pearls are covered in oysters. So a Muslim Woman’s beauty is also covered, and saved for those most precious to her.
This book will discuss in depth about the Muslim Woman’s role, her status, her attire in detail, plus more.
Accepting Others – Learn the Key to Office Harmony
In corporate America, diversity, tolerance and acceptance are hot topics. They are also difficult subjects for many. Too many people believe that accepting others means condoning beliefs or actions with which they disagree. Still others may be insecure and threatened by ideas and personalities that are different from their own.
However, accepting others as they are is critical to creating the type of work environment that ensures businesses can thrive. When there is constant conflict in an office setting, valuable time and energy is lost that could have been put to good use in improving sales and profitability.
Before you can create a culture of acceptance at your company, you need to convince your employees that accepting others isn’t just good for the business’s bottom line, it is good for them as well. The beauty of acceptance is that it opens new doors. Your employees need to understand that it isn’t about turning their backs on their beliefs or way of life. It’s about looking at the world through new eyes and with a new perspective. Maybe this new perspective will just reinforce their beliefs, but it is also could quite possibly change the way they view life.
Of course, this is one of the main reasons why some are so reluctant to accept others. No one likes to admit that they are wrong, and some are threatened by the thought that their way may not be the only way. There is a fear that by admitting others also have a valid viewpoint, we in some way diminish our own opinion. However, this is simply not true. The world is not made up of black and white, but rather many shades of gray.
In the workplace, acceptance is an important part of creating a team of employees who can work together productively and efficiently. When one employee is constantly frustrated with another worker – whether it be a result of that person’s ethnic background, working style or personality – it creates a friction that can bring the entire project to a halt.
For those to whom acceptance does not come easily, it can be taught. A variety of resources, speakers and seminars are devoted to cultivating acceptance within the office environment. A high-quality program will help employees bond while learning how to accept each others’ differences and respectfully disagree when necessary.
After an acceptance training program, both employees and supervisors will witness a transformation in their work environment. Conflict will be replaced with cooperation, and problems with productivity.
Zohra Sarwari is one of the nation’s foremost Muslim women speakers. She has been featured at numerous seminars and conferences. Her talks combine humor with the real-world perspective of a Muslim living in America’s Midwest. A published author, Mrs. Sarwari has written extensively on the subjects of tolerance, diversity and the truth behind the Islamic religion.
Diversity Training – Don’t Miss This Key To Workplace Productivity!
When you think of diversity training, what comes to mind? You might think of being forced to sit in an empty boardroom with cold coffee watching an outdated video that plays on all the old racial stereotypes. Or worse, it is a round-table discussion where you are forced to lay bare your soul to others you hardly know.
Both of these options are anything but effective when it comes to promoting diversity in the workforce. For some employees they will just be seen as a free pass from work while others will resent them as unneeded lecturing that leaves them feeling hostile.
So what are you to do? Workforce diversity is a critical issue that can’t be ignored. When diversity is embraced and celebrated, employees are more productive, have less sick time and are more likely to show pride in their work. However, you don’t want to bore your employees or put on a program that is counter-productive.
The same can be said for diversity in education. We learn best from others who are not like us – those who challenge our ideas and perspectives. For quality diversity training, you need to find an expert who can easily relate to others as well as provide the education appropriate for the level of audience.
Finding the right speaker can be a daunting task. However, selecting the right match for your company or college is crucial to having a successful program. Search for someone who offers an alternative perspective but who also has a background similar to your audience. You want to challenge your workforce to think outside the box, but you don’t want someone too confrontational – such ‘in your face’ tactics rarely work and often back-fire.
Once you have the right trainer, it is time to schedule a convenient training time. Provide light refreshments and keep the atmosphere upbeat. After all, the right training should be fun and never monotonous and boring. Then, sit back and watch as your well-chosen diversity training program results in improved employee retention, great productivity and, of course, more profits for your business!
Zohra Sarwari is one of the nation’s foremost Muslim women speakers. She has been featured at numerous seminars and conferences. Her talks combine humor with the real-world perspective of a Muslim living in America’s Midwest. A published author, Mrs. Sarwari has written extensively on the subjects of tolerance, diversity and the truth behind the Islamic religion.
Patience – The 21st Century’s Lost Virtue
Good things come to those who wait.
Patience is a virtue.
To ever
y thing there is a season.
We’ve all heard these clichés, right? They may sound tired and worn out now, but they hold a great truth. Despite our best attempts to control and manipulate our lives, some things simply cannot be rushed.
Ask any college student who has tried cramming for a test, and they will tell you that there is only so much information you can jam into your brain in an overnight study session. Instead of rushing to make up a semester’s worth of work in a final weekend, the better strategy is to patiently review the material throughout the entire class.
Of course, that is easier said than done. Today’s society makes it difficult to be patient. Everything about our world seems to be focused on making life go by faster – we have faster phones, faster computers, faster cars. At the supermarket, we can go through the fast lane, and fast food has become a stable for most American families. With everything telling us to go, go, go all the time, it can be difficult to practice patience.
However, learning to slow down and enjoy life at a more leisurely speed is critical. College students who find themselves rushing between activities are likely to continue that behavior post-graduation. Their work will suffer, and their families will suffer as they continually try to cram as much as possible into too little time.
Discovering patience is a key component to having a satisfying life. And the earlier one learns this skill, the more you will be able to enjoy what is important to you. By nurturing a patient attitude toward life, you can focus on what is really meaningful instead of filling your time with busy work and emotional clutter. Only then, can you find the inner peace you are seeking.
Zohra Sarwari is one of the nation’s foremost Muslim women speakers. She has been featured at numerous seminars and conferences. Her talks combine humor with the real-world perspective of a Muslim living in America’s Midwest. A published author, Mrs. Sarwari has written extensively on the subjects of tolerance, diversity and the truth behind the Islamic religion.
Creating A Better World – From Beyond the Peace Corps to Your Backyard
Created under the administration of John F. Kennedy in 1961, the Peace Corps has attracted thousands of college students, young professionals and others to provide service in needy countries throughout the world. The idea behind the Peace Corps is that by providing basic services to those in need, we can create a peaceful world environment – one without the unrest and hostility that breeds famine and war.
While a worthy cause, not everyone can take time off from school or work to spend months or years overseas helping promote a stable, global environment. Fortunately, cultivating peace doesn’t mean you have to take a leave of absence or travel to distant lands. Peace starts at home with individuals making small, but meaningful changes in their lives.
Racial tension and religious persecution are alive and well in America. They can be found on our college campuses, at corporate meetings and in our daily interactions with one another. These small injustices mount to create a society in which we no longer value all our members, and some are dismissed as being unneeded or unwanted.
For lasting peace in our communities, it is vital that we work together to develop schools and workforces that celebrate our diversity instead of trying to force square pegs into round holes. Peace will only come when our communities accept everyone for their individual traits. Only then will our creative spirit and productivity soar.
Although not as glamorous as jetting off on an adventure with the Peace Corps, creating peace at home is just as important. If you are not sure about how to take the first step, there are a number of speakers and programs available that can help promote peace. Designed for college students and corporate executives, these seminars can give you the tools you need to make the small changes necessary to impact our world in a big way
Zohra Sarwari is one of the nation’s foremost Muslim women speakers. She has been featured at numerous seminars and conferences. Her talks combine humor with the real-world perspective of a Muslim living in America’s Midwest. A published author, Mrs. Sarwari has written extensively on the subjects of tolerance, diversity and the truth behind the Islamic religion.