The Romanian team has come up with this:
Tolerance means putting up with differences. It means showing respect for the race, age, gender, religion, opinions and ideas of other people.
Tolerance can be shown in many ways. A person might fully disagree with others on issues such as religion, while at the same time respecting those with different opinions and treating them with dignity and respect.
Tolerance does not mean that a person has to accept words, actions or ideas that are against her or his values or beliefs. It simply means that each person agrees to respect the other's right to her or his own feelings on the matter. When both parties have expressed their opinions, and it is obvious that neither is likely to change position, agreeing to disagree is often the most amicable outcome.
Some degree of tolerance is necessary in any civilised society, but it is not realistic to believe that all people can achieve complete tolerance on every issue. It goes against human nature, or the instinctive impulse of some, to pull away from people or things that are different or unknown. Tolerance is a learned attribute, a virtue, which requires honest effort on the part of every person. It takes time to develop tolerance, and it also takes commitment.
In its Declaration on the Principles of Tolerance (16 November 1995), UNESCO offers a definition of tolerance that most closely matches our use of the word:
"Tolerance is respect, acceptance and appreciation of the rich diversity of our world's cultures, our forms of expression and ways of being human. [...] Tolerance is harmony in difference."
