"Tolerance is the word used most often when this kind of coexistence succeeds, but
tolerance is a vanilla-pudding word, standing for little more than the allowance of letting
others live unremarked and unmolested. Pride seems excessive, given the American
willingness to endlessly complain about them, them being whoever is new, different,
unknown, or currently under suspicion. But patriotism is partly taking pride in this
unlikely ability to throw all of us together in a country that across its length and breadth
is as different as a dozen countries, and still be able to call it by one name. When
photographs of the faces of all those who died in the World Trade Center destruction are
assembled in one place, it will be possible to trace in the skin color, the shape of the eyes
and the noses, the texture of the hair, a map of the world. These are the representatives of
a mongrel nation that somehow, at times like this, has one spirit. Like many improbable
ideas, when it actually works, it's a wonder."
Note the phrase Quindlen uses to describe tolerance. What context clues in this could help you determine the meaning of the phrase? What viewpoint does Quindlen suggest by using this description in connection with successful coexistence.
>Please help me I've been racking my brain for an hour I don't understand it. The article is A Quilt of A Country, by the way, if you need the full argument. Thanks in advance!
Tolerance, as this man puts it, means that it is a weak way of trying to describe coexistence. He means to say it's too weak to describe the feeling of union. You can see this as he says that tolerance is a "Vanilla pudding word." But he also says that "Pride seems excessive." The viewpoint seems to be one of contemplation and of, well, wonder.
It's a woman Mahiru.
To determine the meaning of the phrase "tolerance is a vanilla-pudding word," we need to analyze the context and the viewpoint of the author. In this case, the phrase is used by the author, Anna Quindlen, in her article "A Quilt of a Country."
The term "vanilla-pudding word" suggests that the author views the term "tolerance" as bland or lacking significance. By using this description in connection with successful coexistence, Quindlen implies that mere tolerance, which is often understood as the allowance of others to simply live unremarked and unmolested, is not enough for true coexistence to occur.
Through the use of the phrase, Quindlen suggests that successful coexistence requires something more than just tolerating differences; it requires embracing and celebrating diversity, and ultimately taking pride in the ability of the American nation to bring together people from various backgrounds despite their differences. The author highlights the uniqueness of America as a multicultural and diverse country, where people of different races, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds come together and form one nation. This viewpoint emphasizes the importance of recognizing and appreciating the multitude of backgrounds and experiences that create the fabric of American society.