Americans alarmed and disheartened by a coarsened culture and incivility in politics — especially following a brutal presidential campaign season that bared new lows in both — are fighting back with a range of initiatives around the U.S. to restore some semblance of decorum.

"It's incumbent on us to be the adults who push back against what we're getting in the popular culture and the political rhetoric," said Mary Evins, who directs the American Democracy Project for Civil Learning at Middle Tennessee State University


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The school is training faculty to incorporate civic learning across disciplines, holding a lecture series on rhetoric, and hosting former members of Congress to talk about respectful dialogue. Evins says it's all part of addressing not just college and career, but citizenship.

"If we do not address that third C, then we have shamed ourselves," she said, "we have walked away."

Even as polls find Americans say a civil tone in candidates is an important factor in how they vote, surveys have also shown people more accepting of personal attacks in politics. A poll by Zogby commissioned by Allegheny College in October found in the six years since its previous survey, significantly more people viewed it as acceptable to interrupt, shout over, belittle, insult, personally attack, or question the patriotism of those with differing opinions. Respondents also have grown more accepting of commenting on another's sexual orientation, race or ethnicity.

Fewer people even believe elected officials should pursue friendships with members of other parties: 56 percent in the more recent survey compared with 85 percent in 2010.

"If this incivility continues, we're going to lose a generation to politics," said Jim Mullen, president of Allegheny, in Meadville, Pennsylvania. "And that's a very dangerous thing for our democracy."


from: https://www.yahoo.com/news/incivility-hits-depths-many-working-combat-173506766.html


perhaps the pendulum will swing back

Even as polls find Americans say a civil tone in candidates is an important factor in how they vote, surveys have also shown people more accepting of personal attacks in politics. A poll by Zogby commissioned by Allegheny College in October found in the six years since its previous survey, significantly more people viewed it as acceptable to interrupt, shout over, belittle, insult, personally attack, or question the patriotism of those with differing opinions. Respondents also have grown more accepting of commenting on another's sexual orientation, race or ethnicity.
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A personal opinion and a question I've always had in my mind for years Ms.Harmony and this is not about just the article itself .. I'm just wondering after all these years..will there every be a moment when insults, attacks, race discrimination etc, will ever stop or put an end to it?
I know we can't change the way people think and use their mind sometimes, but a change has to be made, a change for the better, a change for improvement, eguality and self conscience that each individual need to make an effort and see people as who they really are and accept that fact that ...We are humans with needs and wants. We just are and we need to accept them. This is the reality! It's sad in a way to see that this is happening still.. Even today.

I don't believe it will stop until after this life is over lu_rosemary

but I believe it can always get better,,,

I'll tell you what I HOPE is true.

What I HOPE is true, is that the reason why people appear to be more accepting of incivility these days, isn't because they like rudeness, or even because they want more antagonism.

I hope that it's because what they want, is real honesty, and real problem solving, and that too many of the people who have continued to play an obviously faked civil game, haven't offered those things.

In personal relationships, I've seen the same basic thing. People will go for someone who is crude and rude and genuine, over someone who is carefully polite but doesn't have any real substance or backbone.

But they will go even MORE solidly for someone who is strong and centered, and are polite because that is how they conduct their lives, rather than because they are trying to fool others into liking them.

And THAT is how we get back to civil politics: by having people with real leadership skills and determination, AND the ability to conduct themselves with decorum at all times.

To use one of my classic oblique similes, it's a bit like the famous Teddy Roosevelt quote, "speak softly, but carry a big stick." That was all about knowing how to be civil and diplomatic, while clearly being strong and capable of getting the job done.

^^^What He Said!^^^

Well said!
I see so many people lacking integrity today. Addicted to drama, misguided, all about themselves, on drugs. Did I forget anything?

Oblivious to their surroundings?