Tutzing '99

Tolerance - Basis For Democratic Societies In A World of Difference

Dr. Michel Friedman
Vice Chairman of the
Council of Jews in Germany

When asked about the possibilities offered by politics in designing a tolerant society, Michel Friedman refers to the instruments of educational policy. Tolerance is a matter of education. It begins at home and continues at school. The basis for tolerance is conflict. Friedman opposes however a negative definition of conflict and reminds us that a culture including conflict is a prerequisite for democracy:

"Children are not born as anti-Semites. Nor are children born as skinheads. Children are also not born to automatically solve conflicts using their fists. It is rather a matter of rearing and this term may sound extraordinarily old-fashioned. We can replace it with a modern one but the meaning stays the same. The first place children experience a culture of conflict is in their very own homes!

In our society, conflict is actually something which is disapproved of and thus it is covered up. Therefore, reactions are even more hypocritical and aggressive - instead of open. What I mean by this is that disagreement is the most natural thing in the world - and by the way, I interpret it as the greatest expression of respect. Because conflict means taking someone seriously, being attentive, looking for compromises. It does not mean that I have to be of the same opinion. Nor does it mean that I have to force my own opinion on the other person. But the desire to get to know each other better means both curiosity and disagreement.

Mutual respect and respect of the individual are therefore the keywords for a modern society which desires pluralism, does not interpret diversity as a threat but rather as an opportunity, and which regards simple-mindedness as something threatening."

Conference in Tutzing

Dinner speach by
Micha Brumlik

Day of Tolerance in Munich

Contributions by:
Christian Ude
Michel Friedman
Cem Özdemir
Thomas Henschel
Julian Nida-Rümelin