"Act with TACT" is our motto!
TACT is both a noun and an acronym.
THE NOUN
The noun “TACT” means acting with sensitivity when dealing others. Some synonyms are being diplomatic, thoughtful, considerate, sensitive, understanding, discrete. A person who acts with tact, shows sensitivity to the other person’s feelings, situation, mood when responding to them. A tactful person can respond without offending the other.
THE ACRONYM
The acronym “TACT” stands for ‘Treat with Acceptance, Compassion and Tolerance’
In the context of "Act with TACT," these words refer to
- Treat: treating others like you’d like to be treated: “The Golden Rule.”
- Acceptance: Being welcoming and understanding of people who are different. Any kind of different: color, race, orientation, philosophy, religion, wealth, way of dress, behavior, health or any other quirks a person might have.
- Compassion: Caring about people’s feelings enough to do something about it when you see someone being treated unfairly.
- Tolerance: A willingness to accept someone or an opinion that’s different than from you/yours. You might not agree with them, but you would not cause them harm neither physically nor verbally because of that difference. Words often used to mean the opposite of tolerance are intolerance, prejudice, and bigotry.
AWARENESS
People are always more inclined to do something when they understand the reason for it. Chaim’s motto of “Act with TACT”is a common thread through the exhibit which starts with making sure the visitors are aware of the history of the Holocaust. As visitors are drawn into the story of the Holocaust, and gain a personal awareness of just how far from humanity humans are capable of straying without TACT, the desire to “Act with TACT” will be enhanced.
ACCEPTANCE
Acceptance is a core human value which cannot be taught in one museum visit. However, the CHAIM experience can be a springboard to influencing us all to see the value in accepting every human being as unique and important. Everything adults or leaders say about someone and how these influential figures react to someone are perceived by children in an instant, and in that instant an opinion, good or bad, is formed. The Holocaust story has much to say about how important role modeling acceptance is to raising a kind child. When we "Act with TACT", our children will follow.
COMPASSION
Research shows that some children are born more compassionate than others. However, research also shows that compassion can be taught by spending time with the poor or marginalized (T. Plante 2014). A visit to Chaim is an opportunity to experience many stories of how compassion saved the lives of the marginalized ‘undesirables’ and can help strengthen the development of compassion in young and older alike. Children listen to our words, as well as our actions such as when we ‘Act with TACT’.
TOLERANCE
Helping children accept differences in others is a difficult but crucial step towards building a world free of genocide. Genocide can only happen when hate is taught. At Chaim we use both the lens of intolerance to see the world that hate can create, as well as shine the light on the many acts of kindness which countered the darkness of intolerance. Ultimately, if we show children how to “Act with TACT” a genocide free world can be achieved.