Thread by @AndyKimNJ

Today was my final vote in the House. As I walk out of the chamber for last time, I wanted to share something almost no one notices. The center aisle, the one the President walks down for SOTU, the aisle that divides the R and D sides, ends at an inscription of “Tolerance.”THREAD

It caught my eye the very first time I stepped into the House chamber when first elected. There is a desk in front of it so you can’t see it on TV. I thought it was a curious choice for such a central location. I’ve thought about it for a long time. Why “tolerance?” 2/11

Tolerance isn’t a particularly inspiring word. In fact it can sound a bit negative. Tolerating noise or bad behavior etc. That’s why political leaders often use “unity.”  Why isn’t the word “unity” inscribed in this central location? 3/11

Our most famous motto is E Pluribus Unum. It’s scribed on the ceiling of the capitol dome. I’ve come to believe tolerance is a critical part of how the “Many” become “One”. Tolerance shows a path towards togetherness while still recognizing the challenges of differences.
4/11

It is not that we perfectly blend in a melting pot or assimilate to some singular sense of being American. Tolerance inherently recognizes that differences exist, unity does not. Sometimes the word unity gives the impression of like mindedness, agreement and complete harmony.5/11

I’ve come to like that there’s a grittiness to tolerance. It sets expectations grounded in the reality of plurality. It accepts as a fundamental fact that not everything can be fully agreed upon. That persuasion alone won’t solve our problems. 6/11

Tolerance exists in the space between unity and disunity. It embraces the idea that our belief in freedom is more important than our disagreement or discomfort in how someone else lives their life. 7/11

Tolerance rejects the notion that we are enemies. It means respect for one another despite differences. It rejects separation and segregation and instead embraces co-existence. 8/11

Tolerance is not weakness. It does not mean compromising one’s values nor turning blind eyes to hate. JFK said, “Tolerance implies no lack of commitment to one’s own beliefs. Rather it condemns the oppression or persecution of others.” 9/11

Now societal implementation of tolerance isn’t easy. How do we forge a tolerance that flows in all directions? I don’t claim to have all the answers. But I do think there’s value in the concept and that it should be thought with similar rigor as we do towards unity. 10/11

Now I walk to the other side of the Capitol, to the Senate. I look forward to exploring symbols there. But I take note that the Senate center doors that I enter draw a perfect straight line across the Capitol to the center aisle of the House, and this inscription of Tolerance.END