Lecture: Tolerance and democracy

Pal-Think for Strategic Studies organised a lecture titled “Tolerance and Democracy”, attended by 20 students and graduates of the universities in the Gaza Strip, of both sexes and different specialisations. This lecture comes within the frame of the project “Strengthening tolerance and entrepreneurship” — a project Pal-Think launched in cooperation with the Atlas Network, a non-profit organisation based in the United States of America — a project aiming to raise youth's awareness of entrepreneurship and tolerance, and to help make youth more influential in Palestinian society .

The lecture was delivered by the writer and researcher in legal and political affairs Mr Talal Abu Rokba, who discussed with the participants what democracy and citizenship are, in addition to the concept of tolerance and its effect on the life of individuals and society . He likewise spoke of the difference between respect and acceptance: acceptance lies in the psychological readiness to accept the person as they are and not as they ought to be, regardless of the differences; while respect is accepting others' differing points of view. He considered acceptance the first degree of tolerance's degrees, followed by respect.

He likewise spoke of democracy and its concept, which lies in the people's governance of itself — pointing to the mistaken belief among most that democracy is confined to elections. He denied that, explaining that elections are only a means of achieving democracy, and the society in which democracy prevails lies in all having the same rights and bearing the same duties.

He likewise spoke of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which came as the result of successive human cultures and civilisations and different religions . The Declaration is a moral system setting down that all people are born free and equal in dignity and rights regardless of race, religion, sex, and colour, and that they should treat one another in a spirit of brotherhood and tolerance .