Searching For Civil Discourse

What ever happened to dignity
What ever happened to integrity
What ever happened to honesty
Well I'll tell you something baby - I feel the pain just like the sea

You Nearly Did Me In - Ian hunter.

Is it just me or do you think there's absolutely no civility left in political discussion?

For as long as I can remember, one of the main gripes of older generations has been how rude, crude, abusive and generally impolite succeeding generations are becoming. It's one of those age-old adages, that the world is going to hell in a bucket. I've been of the opinion that in general, one generation is probably not that much worse, nor much better, than any previous one - it's more of an altering of one's interpretation as one's wisdom (hopefully) grows with age. As children, we're enamored with the schoolyard mate who can most spectacularly imitate flatulence using nothing more than a sweaty armpit. As we become teenagers, we are in awe of the first member of our group who dares to use the "f" word in public. By the time we reach adulthood, usually our language is quite fluently salty, and hopefully we've taught ourselves when it is and when it is not appropriate to use such language. Then, as we age, we become convinced our unique experiences give us some special insight into the human experience, which allows us to judge others, usually as inferior to ourselves. Nothing new here, just people living their lives.

No one can deny that language and actions have become more coarse in public. Just rent a movie, turn on the radio or flip on the TV. Heck, drive down to the local highschool during lunch time recess and we can hear language that would make Popeye blush. My own opinion on this phenomena is that our behavior as a civilization isn't necessarily worse, but rather just more inclusive. That is to say, there's always been people who care nothing for public decorum, we just didn't necessarily see them much. As the media in America has expanded (i.e. talk radio, the web, cable TV) it's grown to include those who otherwise might fart their way through life without ever drawing our attention.

But what about decorum in the public forum?

When did insults, vulgarity and vindictiveness become the norm? When did it replace the free exchange of ideas? I was exchanging emails with someone I don't even know (I had hit "reply to all" and he decided to reply to me). He was pointing out what a terrible, vile and disgusting excuse for a human being Judge Sam Alito is, and how he approved of strip-searching small children. I tried to point out the vast differences between a trial judge and an appeals judge, but it wasn't sinking in. In the case in question, police believed the search warrant they had received covered all occupants of the house, who the police believed they had reasonable cause to search. So they called in a female officer and had her escort the child to a private room where the strip search was conducted. And that search did in fact turn up drugs. The trial judge overruled the defense attorney's objection that the search was illegal, therefor the evidence was illegal and therefore not admissible in court. That's the trial judge in action.

On appeals, the case came before Judge Alito. His part in the case was not to determine if the convict was guilty or innocent, or if the incident was decent and appropriate. His job was to review how the trail judge acted in applying the law. There is a huge difference there. Did the trial judge err in allowing evidence to be introduced under what the defense called an illegally applied search warrant? Its the same case, but its two vastly different and separate aspects of it.

After sending out that explanation on the differences between trial judges and appellate judges, I found myself reading an email full of vulgarities and helpful suggestions such as: I should remove my head from Rush Limbaugh's crack-smoking ass. Not what I had expected from someone I assumed was at least civil. But I guess I should not have been surprised. Because that is where the political discussion in this country has gone. Instead of making reasoned, well thought-out debates on important issues, it's become a game of who can come up with the nastiest, pithiest, zingers.

My own personal opinion is that you can judge, fairly well, the depth of a person's argument by how quickly they resort to insults. If I make a point in a debate, and my opponent can't come up with a reasonable response, rather than admitting I have made a point I'm showered with hate-filled insults. Therefore, I can safely conclude my opponent has nothing reasonable to respond with, and the debate is over. (And it is over with the above stated person.)

But where does that leave us? When someone hurls an insult at you, I've found that it tells you a lot more about them, than about you. Namely, their lack of education, knowledge, and wisdom. I guess what I'm driving at here, does the lack of civil discourse on politics indicate the current crop of politicians, talking heads, media pundits and people have reached a point where they have no more ideas? Or is it a case of where we've all made our points over and over so many times, that we believe our debating opponents are so thick than nothing can possibly sink in, so we're left to amuse ourselves by how witty our insults and put-downs can be?

Whatever the reason, its getting harder and harder to communicate with anyone who doesn't already agree with us before the debate even begins. And that's not only scary, its dangerous. Everyone needs to entertain differing opinions. If we don't how could we ever be sure that our opinions and beliefs are as correct and as strong as they can be?

Here's a suggestion I have, for anyone who cares. Try listening to someone else's point of view. You may or may not agree, but at least try. If you think your opponent is wrong or mistaken, then you should try - in an appropriate and polite manner - to convince them to change their opinion. But keep it out of the slime and the mud. And when your opponent finally looses their cool (notice how quickly that occurs) simply walk away. Its not worth the aggravation or the stress. Keep your civility and realize you are the better person for doing so.

Tommy! BluePages QuickSearch

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