Civility
The horrible shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords and others is an important American moment.
Well, we made it to Election Day -- time to pack up the ol' Truth and Civility campaign until the next election
On my way back to Pennsylvania after attending Jon Stewart's Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington, D.C. last Saturday, I couldn't get one sign out of my head which read, "It's too bad we even need a rally to restore SANITY."
Every time I see a negative ad these days, I think one thing: What a waste! In such tough economic times, I cringe at all the money being spent on throwing mud at the other side. In fact, that gives me an idea: All of you who keep making arguments about why we should never trust the other side with our tax dollars -- how about you show us that you can be responsible with your own money now?
During this year's election season Santa Cruz's local news station KION Central Coast News, a subsidiary of CBS, has issued an open invitation to local candidates to come to the studio and promote their campaigns for election. Each candidate can create a one-minute spot to introduce themselves, explain why they are running for office and share their qualifications and viewpoints. The only condition for the free news coverage was that they could not say anything negative about their opponents.
The Institute for Civility in Government was founded in 1998 by two Presbyterian pastors, the Rev. Cassandra Dahnke and the Rev. Tomas Spath. They began by taking groups of adults to Washington, D.C., to listen and learn about how to speak with one another and their elected officials in civil, courteous ways. They branched out to college campuses, bringing elected officials to campuses to meet with students. These gatherings are not about positions or sides of a debate, but about discussing ideas in a respectful manner.
It's midterm election time. How are you going to vote? Well, it's obvious, isn't it? Your side -- whichever it is -- is the only one that will save America from utter financial and moral collapse. The other side -- whichever it is -- is full of liars and hypocrites controlled by unscrupulous cabals who, for financial reasons, are willing to ruin the common man. And woman.
The passage from James' letter warns that our words, for better or worse, can turn a ship or light a forest ablaze. At this point in the campaign season, every time I see a political ad I mute my TV or change the station. I know I'm not alone.
Like millions of people around the world, I stayed up much too late last night, mesmerized by the live coverage of the miners being rescued in Chile. The pictures of the narrow capsule emerging from the ground, the door opening, and men who had been 2,300 feet underground for 69 days stepping out were extraordinary. And the joyous, tearful reunions with their families that followed were moving beyond words.
Last week, I asked you all to tell FOX News that when it comes to truth and civility, they can do better. Thousands of you did. You aren't the only ones who see things getting worse than ever before. This week, a group of more than 130 former legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, released a letter urging for civility and encouraging candidates, once elected, to focus on cooperation to face our country's greatest challenges.
Yesterday, a group of more than 130 former legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, released a letter urging for civility and encouraging candidates, once elected, to focus on cooperation to face our country's greatest challenges. The letter said:
Yesterday, I posted a blog about how to get beyond labels when engaging in discourse with another individual. Today I'd like to share some tips on how to get beyond labels and have civil discourse with a group.
Ever since Peter and Paul had opposing views about ministry to the Gentiles, there have been divisions in the Christian church. But rarely in the course of church history have differences among Christians been so exploited and manipulated for political gain by those outside the church as is the case today.