What the International Day for Tolerance Can Teach the Marching Arts
This International Day for Tolerance, MAASIN is bringing attention to the values at the heart of this global observance and how they mirror the work we try to champion every day in the marching arts: safety, accountability, and genuine inclusion. As ensembles across the country continue to navigate issues of discrimination, equity, and community culture, this day offers an opportunity to reflect, recommit, and reimagine what true tolerance should look like within our activity.
“Peace, if it is not to fail, must be founded on the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind.”
UNESCO Declaration of Principles on Tolerance, 1995
On November 16, 1996, the United Nations General Assembly declared the International Day for Tolerance, building upon UNESCO’s 1995 Declaration of Principles on Tolerance. The declaration asserts that tolerance is neither indulgence nor indifference; it is respect and appreciation for humanity’s vast diversity.
In a world fractured by intolerance and misinformation, this day reminds us that peace is not a passive state. It is something we must also practice as an ongoing process of dialogue, empathy, and accountability.
In the Marching Arts, a world where teamwork, discipline, and emotion intertwine, this principle carries particular weight. It asks: “how do we sustain harmony not only in our performances, but in our communities as well?”
Redefining What “Peace” Really Means
We often imagine peace as the absence of conflict: comfort, stillness, and silence. But real peace isn’t always comfortable. It demands effort, listening, and sometimes discomfort. Peace, as UNESCO frames it, is a structure, a set of shared commitments that enable conversation, reconciliation, and growth without violence or harm. In our own creative ecosystems (rehearsal fields, classrooms, buses, and competition lots) peace begins with listening to discomfort rather than avoiding it; this is the hallmark of tolerance.
The Myth of Quiet Endurance
“Just turn the other cheek.”
This familiar phrase, and phrases like it, are commonly heard and spoken in creative spaces like the marching arts. They romanticize endurance by encouraging members to push through fatigue, criticism, or even abuse. On top of that, these challenges can also be often framed as a badge of honor. This is all an attempt to justify harsh and sometimes offensive treatment towards membership. This is not actually what tolerance is.
Tolerance, in its definitive form, is not about enduring mistreatment, it’s about challenging the systems that normalize it. When we tell performers to accept disrespect for the sake of “growth,” we blur the line between resilience and silence. Peace and non-violence starts when we permit people to speak, and when we build structures that ensure they are heard without consequence. Minimizing your reaction to discrimination against you by saying toothless platitudes like “turn the other cheek” does not diminish the impact of the harm you face.
The Paradox of Tolerance
Philosopher Karl Popper articulated the paradox of tolerance, which affirms that unlimited tolerance can ultimately erode tolerance itself. For a society to remain tolerant, it must take a stand against intolerance. In practical terms, this means that discrimination should not be accepted under the pretext of “personal opinion” or “creative difference.” When prejudiced viewpoints are given equal consideration alongside those advocating for equity, the balance is compromised.
Applying this principle to the marching arts, it becomes clear that the objective should be to encourage each other constructively, not to shame, but rather to educate. This requires a commitment to rejecting discrimination while fostering an environment that allows for personal and collective growth.
Where We Stand: Data & Reality
In 2023, we surveyed participants in Drum Corps International (DCI) and Drum Corps Associates (DCA).
Out of 54 respondents, 24% reported experiencing discrimination or harassment.
Of those, 77% said the incidents came from other members, not staff.
The most common reasons cited were sex, gender identity, and body size.
These numbers reveal an undeniable truth: harm often occurs peer-to-peer within our own ensembles. This involves all of us, we must call in one another to tolerate differences and become intolerant of discrimination.
International Day for Tolerance For All of Us
UNESCO outlines four central pillars for cultivating tolerance and non-violence. Translating these into the marching arts, we encourage you and your organizations to focus on the following:
Creating a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence:
Tolerance is not about avoiding difficult conversations. It’s about creating processes that resolve conflict without harm. This could mean transparent codes of conduct, inclusive training, or peer-led dialogue sessions after conflicts arise.
Cultivating an Internal Democracy:
Ensembles can embody democracy when members and staff have a voice in shaping policies, defining what safety looks like, and holding leadership accountable. This builds trust from within.
Fostering Rights and Inclusion:
Programs can incorporate education around human rights, gender equality, and empathy-building workshops to promote understanding beyond surface-level diversity. This can strengthen bonds between members and staff in any kind of marching arts organization.
Embracing Feedback and Criticism:
Every performer deserves the safety to speak freely without fear of retaliation. Tools like DCI’s and WGI’s reporting systems are progress, but their existence must be paired with a culture that values safety as much as scores.
From Awareness to Accountability
Tolerance can be practiced in an organization or ensemble in many ways. Some examples of tolerance in action are leaders investing in education, members advocating for one another, and organizations prioritizing well-being alongside excellence.
What happens on our fields, floors, and stages often mirrors society’s broader struggles with inclusion and empathy. Every day at a rehearsal or a show, we witness firsthand the value of working together and respecting our differences. Yet, we also see the challenges that can arise when misunderstandings or exclusions occur, echoing the divisions present in society at large.
Recognizing the International Day for Tolerance is not merely symbolic, it is practical. It provides us with a meaningful opportunity to pause and reflect on our behaviors and the culture we nurture within our ensembles. It’s an invitation to check our biases, rethink our habits, and create artistic spaces where differences are not just accepted, but celebrated. We can use our platforms to foster belonging by intentionally encouraging open conversations, uplifting underrepresented voices, and building performances that resonate with a spirit of unity. In doing so, we make the marching arts not just a reflection of society, but a shining example of how empathy, respect, and inclusion can thrive.
Paul “Sal” Salazar
MAASIN BIPOC Caucus Chair
Resources
DCI Ethics and Compliance Reporting
Email: ethics@dci.org
or call 1-833-556-0385
for concerns regarding discrimination, ethics, or compliance.
WGI Participant Protection Reporting Form
File an anonymous report or learn more:
wgi.org/about-wgi/participant-protection-reporting-form
UNESCO: International Day for Tolerance
unesco.org/en/days/tolerance