Is Civility An Endangered Speech?

From time to time we all forget the manners we’re taught in kindergarten. We’re human. To err is human. Simple manners are the framework of our civil behavior- like please and thank you. But today, people aren’t forgetting their manners; they’re deliberately trading graciousness for meanness. Recent outbursts have not been isolated to politics- movie stars, news commentators and sports celebrities have all popped their cork in recent days. This degrading behavior didn’t just happen over night. The norm of accepted decorum has been drifting away from graciousness for years. I miss William F. Buckley. I almost never agreed with him, but I respected him. He was a gracious conservative. He made his points intelligently, with class.

He stands in strong contrast to the plethora of conservative cable news and AM Talk Radio commentators. We’re inundated with rude and belittling language 24/7. We seldom hear his opponents address the President as Mr. President, or President Obama- they make a point to show disrespect- otherwise listeners might mistake graciousness for approval. By keeping the tone rude, it’s unambiguous where they stand. All the vitriol that flows from them paints their image of the President as an evil man, with evil intentions. I think his intentions are honorable, not devious, as they would have us believe.

A majority elected him, but a large minority fiercely opposed him. The President campaigned for change, and he’s trying to keep his promise. So fasten your seat belts- we're in for more turbulence for at least 3 years and 3 months. This is the first of many conflicts yet to come- after health reform; it will be gun control, abortion, government regulation, civil rights, infrastructure modernization, education, taxes, climate change, defense spending, environment, or energy independence. I hope we can survive all these upcoming battles, and become a better society in the process, before we reach a point of no return to civility.