tolerance

tolerance is not the same as acceptance. acceptance of a person inclusive of their identity takes an act of intent, of will, of understanding. tolerance means a person is someone to put up with.
like a rude customer, for instance. i could tolerate a rude customer because perhaps they will only be there a short while, or i know we need their business. i tolerate the rude behavior they demonstrate, but i do not want more of it, i don't seek to have it, and i don't want it to be in my life--i could live without the rude behavior and the rude customer.
to accept a person means that i have put effort into them in some way. i can see that we are intertwined. my life is affected by that person and i am, in fact, the person i am because--in part, of them. i intentionally might seek this person out. seek out their opinion, their experience. their presence is valuable to my life. i accept who they are and what they believe because i can see that these aspects of them make life richer, deeper, and more full.
acceptance does not have parameters. there are not borders and restrictions to acceptance. there is no asterisk. no fine print. acceptance just is. tolerance just is, except...