"How to Restore Civility in Public Discourse"

"How to Restore Civility in Public Discourse" from the League of Municipalities Conference on Civility, June 6th, 2013. 

"Without a balancing of free speech and civility, it is likely that further stagnation in government will result; less and less willingness to participate in public affairs will ensue; and public discussion and dialogue will continue to be rife with inflammatory and personal invectives.

All-in-all, not a pretty picture. "We must model the behavior that we wish to see in others, particularly in our elected officials, and hold everyone accountable for words and actions that are disrespectful or grossly deviate from acceptable norms."

A 2011 article in the New Jersey School Boards Association’s magazine, School Leader, addressed the dozen most common ―Board Member Blunders.

In the process, it offered some useful suggestions on how to avoid those blunders:

1. Try to understand what motivates others, and have patience with ideas that are different from your own.
2. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
3. If you are going to ask a difficult question, give others a chance to gather the information necessary to answer the question intelligently. No one likes to be embarrassed.
4. Always put the public interest before your self-interest or the dictates of politics.
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Some of these concepts were addressed in another article, also published in School Leader, on ―Stress Management Strategies.

In that article, the authors suggested the following:

1. Make a quick mental estimate of the situation. You may sense an attack. However, a seemingly hostile speaker is not typically addressing you as a ―person, but rather is addressing you as an elected representative.
2. Be confident in your own skills and the process of addressing the issues at hand.
3. Look past the negative comments and concentrate on how you can substantively address the matter under consideration.
4. (My favorite) Trade minds with the people who ask for your help. The authors reference a great quote from Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird --- ―You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view ---- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.
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The rules of the Republican House Caucus also offer seven categories of ―unparliamentary speech which were included in an American Bar Association publication earlier this year. Essentially, they are a list of things ―not to do:
1. Don’t defame or degrade the House.
2. Don’t criticize the Speaker’s personal conduct.
3. Don’t impugn the motives of another member.
4. Don’t charge falsehood or deception.
5. Don’t claim a lack of intelligence or knowledge.
6. Do not refer to race, creed or prejudice.
7. Do not assert any charges related to loyalty or patriotism.

Adherence to these precepts by elected officials and by the public at large would go a long way in furthering civility in public discourse.

I will conclude my remarks with a more contemporary quote from President Kennedy which reads as follows: "―So let us begin anew --- remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is not subject to proof."

Excerpted from ‘Encouraging Civility in Public Meetings’ Opening Remarks: Raymond R. Wiss, Immediate Past President New Jersey School Boards Association.

Full remarks can be read here. http://www.njlmef.org/presentations/R-Wiss-HOW-TO-RESTORE-CIVILITY-06-6-13.pdf