Poem - Tolerance

Tolerance

If I tolerate the worst,
if I turn my head toward evil,
how can I avow tolerance
as a way to live?

Tolerance implies understanding,
compassion, and unbiased acceptance
of others and other ways
of being.

If I tolerate
something other
than what is fair and just
then I cannot
state a message of tolerance.

That is just the truth;
if I abide the truth
I cannot abide intolerance.