POLITICAL TOLERANCE and DEMOCRACY

Introduction ::      Before proceeding further we are bound to define and explain the concept , "Political Tolerance". In a democracy every citizen  or every individual is free to have  his/her political opinion. Citizens are free to follow and  like any political party according to their individual mental choice and conviction , nobody should impose their political ideals and conviction on any body else. To make it clear even husbands should not impose their political ideals and preferences on their wives , fathers cannot impose their political will on their children and so on . Political parties should have the political maturity and mentality to face different political opinions of  opposite political parties . Every political leader and every political party will be adhering different political goals, targets , ideals  and ideology. Politicians should calmly, intelligently and with cool head face political challenges, opposite political views and defeat them in democratic way . We can call this quality of democratic approach as  Political Tolerance

Causes for political intolerance:  Practically  all the  politicians are after political power to impose their political conviction and political goal on their country men . So by any means  the political leaders  want to capture the political power to actuate their political targets and ideals. Political leaders are activated and motivated by their convictions and  as a corollary democracy is  pulled to different directions for different reasons. Now because of political intolerance of political leaders and rulers ,both democracy and  the democratic  countries  are passing through  very difficult  bottle necks and testing time . When power is transferred from the ruling Party into hands of their political opponents  through ballot papers ; it creates political frustrations in the minds of the rejected dominant  politicians. And such   politicians who are rejected by the people in the electoral system   purposely violates the civilized and established principles and norms of decent democracy.  Similarly the elected political party leaders also slowly and steadily want to impose and implement all their ideals and goals in the country by any means. After all the power to alter  and bring amendments lies  with the Parliament and Parliament is controlled the ruling political party.[ majority]. Fanatic attachment to political ideals and  ruthless thirst for  power, sow  the bitter seeds of intolerance in the minds of political thinkers and leaders and they  instead of opposing their political opponents within the constitutional limits ,start to hate their political opponents as enemies. This type of intolerant political approach shakes the very foundations of democracy and  denies the fruits of democracy guaranteed to the people by  the Constitutions of the respective countries.. The imperative responsibility of any government is to  follow  the constitution and protect the fundamental rights of the citizens. But majority in governing bodies /parliaments, in democracies  generally serves as opium and pollutes the political leaders with imbalances , over estimation and wrong  hasty political decisions. Always there is a  sharp and delicate difference between the spirit of the national  Constitutions and the policy of the ruling party.  When political leaders think that they can do anything with the help of majority in the national Parliament ,  then such attitude and approach create political uncertainties and law and order problem .   Some politicians are dominated by political ideas and few other political leaders are influenced by political ideologies and so on .Fanaticism in politics easily turns politicians as intolerant politicians , intolerance in politics turns politicians as power exploiters at the cost of decent democratic values.

Consequences of Political  Intolerance:   Political intolerance is the first enemy of democracy .Of all the rights,fundamental  human right is the most important right for any individual to live with personal dignity and liberty. Democracy safeguards citizens' fundamental freedom  and it should safeguard the human rights . In spite of all its minor drawbacks democracy is the best form government .  But the emergence of political intolerance will erode and corrupt  the firm bricks  and infrastructure  of democracy.  Fall  of democracy means the fall of freedom and liberty  of the common men . But definitely  political intolerance will devastate the the pillars  of democracy . The collapse of the democracy means the end of human freedom dignity, privileges, progress and liberty of  the common citizens. We can say human intelligence is  not wise enough to find out an alternative form of  Government to Democracy . Now-a-days political intolerance has become the order of  democracy.  Political intolerance is shaking the very foundation of democracies throughout the world. It is really  a serious problem, but unfortunately  political intolerance has been increasing day by day and  has been causing  many untoward disturbances and unrest and political and social pusillanimity  among the people . Political intolerance  is an invisible threat to internal peace of the concerned countries and also  it affects the  international political understanding and affinity. . Political intolerance blinds the political insight of the political leaders and spoil the reputation of the country in the international  world.. Political intolerance divides the citizens  into so many political groups and  spreads  hate  politics which   will consume the fundamental rights, privileges ,freedom and progress of the common people. Political intolerance is an invisible and serious threat to the national integrity of the nations.Unity of the people is the most lasting and powerful strength of the nations but unity of the people and political intolerance can not go together.

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Conclusion: Political intolerance has become the very order of the global politics today . Political intolerance is a direct challenge and open threat to global peace and progress. Difference of political opinions are inevitable and they are the pillars  of democracy , provided the differences are expressed democratically and dealt  with democratically.. Internal peace and international peace , both are important for  national growth and global progress.  Political leaders should have real respect for the provisions and the spirit of their respective nations' Constitutions,.No political ideology is absolutely right, this real truth is a hard political pill to digest. Love for fellow country men , love for impartial service to humanity are the only available political solutions to redeem political leaders from political intolerance and  to save the Nations and  World from self destruction . Political Think Tanks should take more sincere efforts  to save democracy from the evils and adverse effects of intolerant politics by contributing new innovative ways to save democracy from political intolerance. [  The views expressed in this  article  are not final definitely it can not be absolutely perfect , so I request the reads to contribute your valuable ideas and wisdom to save Democracy from the adverse influence of  political intolerance].

[ This article welcomes  your intellectual views and comments .  This Post will be modified  later if needed]
BY. BABU MANOHARAN.