The New “Old” Rules Of Civility
Seven ways to engage in a divisive world
A few days ago, I attended a school board meeting. I know. I know. It’s the new battlefield for the soul of America, and I don’t mean battlefield in a figurative sense.
The board called this special meeting to discuss a petition started by parents to institute more stringent policies to control the spread of Covid.
It’s almost cliché for these meetings to devolve into verbal abuse, spitting, and taunting by immature adults like you’ll see with these fine parents.
But our meeting was nothing of the sort. With one minor exception, the parents behaved admirably, expressing passionate demands while remaining civil. Even those who offered differing views maintained decorum.
These throwbacks to civility give me hope, but they’re becoming relics of an earlier era. Politeness and common courtesy have taken a backseat to outrage. It seems we’ve forgotten the rules for engaging with fellow citizens who espouse alternate worldviews.
The basics of civility haven’t changed, but the game of life has evolved, and so must the rules. These seven principles won’t solve our differences, and those who benefit most probably won’t follow them anyway, but we can hope.
