Gay marriage allowed in NZ

NZ has become the 13th country in the world where gay marriage is legalised. I am from the country which was the first in the world. I am proud of it. I lived in Holland for 37 years and part of my experience of being Dutch is being tolerant.
Thanks to the tolerance and open mindedness of the Dutch Holland flourished in business for centuries.
There is considerable discussion going on if the Dutch are still being tolerant today, but that's a different story.
Being tolerant is not the easiest way of living.
Everyone has their own beliefs, perceptions and values. Being an immigrant I know how difficult it is to experience that what was once your "truth" suddenly isn't true anymore because of different cultural values. It is threatening when other people have other and sometimes opposing beliefs.
Threatening towards who you are and what you belief in. It can rock your beliefs. You don't feel accepted or understood. Don't you feel more one with someone who thinks alike. We  might be afraid of what is different.

However If we don't challenge our beliefs or if we never listen to other ways of thinking or accept other ways of living there would be no room for growth. Did you never get the aha moment when you listened to others and started to see things from a different perspective and were able to adjust your opinion. You might need some courage for that as you have to admit that you made a mistake or you were to quick with stating an opinion. It also might make you feel less in control. Sometimes you realise that there might be more than one truth depending on your perception or depending from which angle you look at things.

Being open minded can also mean respecting that other people have just as much the right to live their lives in their way as you do. It is necessary in creating peace by starting to understand our differences.

You don't have to agree with everything but you could start seeing others who are different with exploring new countries. When you go on holiday to a foreign country you don't think "it's different, therefore I don't like it". No people enjoy the out of the ordinary.

I'll try the best I can to be tolerant of other peoples way of living and believing. Live and let live! I do have limits and that is when other peoples ways and beliefs are harm full to others than I become intolerant.
I don't see gay marriage as harm full at all to others. So congratulations to them for being accepted. This NZ politician doesn't think so either. I love his speech and sense of humor.