Civility
By Mitch Berg
It’s true that a big part of civility is what one says. Things like calling someone you disagree with “Hitler” – bad. Very very uncivil.
Another big part of civility is what you say back. For example – if someone calls you “Hitler“, and you’re not actually a Nazi, “civility” involves responding to incivility in a civilized manner.
Civil responses:
- Ignoring the person who called you a “nazi”, because civil people ignore barbarians.
- Defuse the incivility with humor: “Er, no – have you tried to goosestep in shoes like this?”
- Look at your attacker, affect a casual grin, and go “there you go again…”
Uncivil response:
- Call down the entire force of government to silence your opponent.
Remember – “civility” is a two-way street.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:40 am
We can always go back to printing broadsheets.
The 1st Amendment is and will always be a nonpartisan issue. When the argument is framed properly and with passion, the American people will rally around the cause of freedom. What we are talking about is no less than that, the defense of freedom. Not just liberty. Not just free speech. Freedom itself.
I’d like to think that at least 50% of the people still understand this.
Shouting “Fire!” in a crowded theater is NOT analogous to calling someone a Nazi or a commie. The federal government is not our mommy and daddy, and it is not Imperial.
January 14th, 2011 at 10:52 am
The White Bear Lake wrestling coach lost his job because, off school property, on his own time, he said he would like to fight Obama.
January 14th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Liberals do not want Conservatives to be civil.
They want us to be servile.
January 15th, 2011 at 8:32 am
That “casual grin” may be a symptom of Alzheimer’s Disease.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jDeHv0pYni9R1re6FwULw9ooZMwQ?docId=a8faad46916b4494b4961d6533f6777d
January 15th, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Or excessive ballet dancing, combined with a codpiece.