CIVILITY IN PUBLIC DISCOURSE IS ALL BUT DEAD THESE DAYS

It is with some sadness that I note the death of public civility. 

I don’t mean the social graces like table manners and that sort of thing, though I deplore the use of cell phones at the dinner table and elsewhere in social settings.

In the context of this post, I am referring the social actions and interactions we exhibit when we express differing, sometimes opposing points of view.

Civility and respect are important because they are a reflection of our attitude toward our fellow man or woman.

Growing up in decades past,  many of us were taught about how to deal with people. Most of the lessons had some basis in the Scriptures.

At the top of list of wise counsel, the Ten Commandments, the fabulous yet simple articles of behavior which direct treating the Creator and one’s fellow men and women with the same respect one would expect for himself.


It used to be said that, if you had nothing nice to say about a person, the wise and right thing to do was to keep silent.

Sadly, that isn’t the case any longer.

We are bombarded with the most awful and salacious commentary about people in government, in business, and especially in the entertainment industry.

Little wonder.

Given the fact that the Ten Commandments cannot be posted in public buildings, given the fact that the name of Jesus has itself become taboo in public speech, civility is a thing of the past.

Certainly, all of us are poorer for present state of affairs.

In the shrillness of the vitriol that has become the steady diet of social engagement these days, we find ourselves hopelessly divided as a nation and society.

The best we can hope for is that the hallmark of our personal interaction with others will always be civility and respect.  

We may not be able to change the world at-large, but we can always take charge of our own actions and attitudes so that the little world we live in will be infused with charity and a willingness to listen and respond with kindness and courtesy.