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 nlikely 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 nd 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 his, 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.