The first thing we are going to do is let you know the etymological origin of the term intolerance. In this case, it must be stated that it derives from Latin, exactly from the word "intolerant", which is defined as the "quality of someone who cannot tolerate other opinions." That word was formed from the union of these lexical components:
-The prefix «in-«, which can be translated as «no» or «without».
-The verb «tolerare», which is equivalent to «endure» and «endure».
-The suffix "-ia", which is used to indicate "quality."
The absence of tolerance is called intolerance . The notion of tolerating, in turn, refers to allowing, respecting or enduring .
For example: "I am concerned about the intolerance that many people show towards those who think differently" , "Religious intolerance caused thousands of deaths in this country" , "I should have modified my son's diet since he has lactose intolerance" .
Among the words that can function as synonyms for intolerance are fanaticism, intransigence, stubbornness, obstinacy, obstinacy and stubbornness. On the contrary, among its antonyms we find terms such as tolerance and compromise.
At a social level, intolerance is the lack of ability and/or courage to endure or admit something . The intolerant person, therefore, does not accept that another person may have traditions, values, ideas or customs different from their own, which is why they adopt a violent and contemptuous attitude.
Due to intolerance, a subject does not recognize the other's thought as valid and remains firm in his position , without listening to opposing reasons. The position of the intolerant, therefore, is unalterable.
Take the case of a nation that has Islam as its official religion and as the basis of its social and political organization: the authorities do not allow any demonstration that contradicts their own interpretation of the Koran . Therefore, if someone violates these precepts, the regime's intolerance soon becomes evident through sanctions and punishments of all kinds.
Beyond religious intolerance , there is also political intolerance , ethnic intolerance , etc. Homophobia , sexism and racism are some forms of discrimination motivated by intolerance.
A good example to understand the term intolerance is the Ku Kux Klan (KKK), which is a far-right organization created in the United States in the 19th century. This is characterized by its racist, anti-Semitic and even homophobic character. And, among other things, it is committed to the supremacy of the white race.
In the field of cinema, we have to highlight the existence of a film titled "Intolerance." It was released in 1916, is part of the epic genre and is directed by the American DW Griffith (1875 – 1948). It exposes four historical episodes where the aforementioned intolerance was the protagonist and among those is, for example, the massacre of the Huguenots in France that took place in the 16th century.
In terms of health , finally, food intolerance is recognized: those who suffer from this problem experience adverse reactions when consuming certain foods due to their components. Lactose intolerance , sucrose intolerance , and fructose intolerance are part of these disorders.