In an increasingly tense political climate that has many Arizonans on edge and lashing out, we share again why keeping it civil is key to getting one’s point across
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Lee Shappell
This decline of civil discourse is a national problem. It’s inevitable when we’re taught that cruelty is strength, resentment is identity, hating makes you superior. It’s as if permission has been granted for people to be their worst selves.
What happened to having morals, showing empathy, valuing integrity? What happened to being a good human being? What lesson do our young people take from this?”
About Civility Learning Lab
In 2025, Independent Newsmedia, USA, Inc. launched Civility Learning Lab, a free, non-subscription platform designed to promote civil discussion of issues affecting Arizonans. It now includes INI's Delaware/Maryland and Florida newsrooms.
CivilityLearningLab.org is made possible by sponsorships from INI and retired INI CEO Joe Smyth. For more information on the platform or how to become a sponsor, email CEO Charlene Bisson at cbisson@iniusa.org.
OPINION — We live in an era of normalized boorish behavior.
It has become OK to call an opponent names. To sway an argument with inflamed, hateful and often false rhetoric.
The result may elicit a response in kind. The exchange quickly spirals out of control.
Or, perhaps the victim does not retaliate at all and instead — intimidated — cowers, feeling helpless and sullen.
The point of the discussion is lost in a volley of insults and lies. The bully thumps his chest and proclaims himself the “winner.”
If it’s OK for our leaders to do it, then surely it must be acceptable to trample someone in everyday discussion and attempt to bully the outcome.
This decline of civil discourse is a national problem.
It’s inevitable when we’re taught that cruelty is strength, resentment is identity, hating makes you superior. It’s as if permission has been granted for people to be their worst selves.
What happened to having morals, showing empathy, valuing integrity?
This isn’t about policy or politics, it is about human decency.
Free speech is protected in this country by the First Amendment, but with freedom comes responsibility.
As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday on the Fourth of July, it is beyond time to halt the decline of civil discourse and to reject boorish behavior.
Productive exchanges of ideas are possible and more constructive without it.
Civility matters
So why does civility matter? Why is it important? And how long will it take us to right this listing ship?
According to the University of San Diego Institute for Civil Civic Engagement — formed as a partnership among San Diego area’s Mesa College, Miramar College, City College and the USD College of Arts and Sciences — improving the quality of dialogue and civic engagement through the respectful exchange of ideas “is crucial for resolving complex, uncomfortable issues.” It allows for disagreement without creating toxic conflict and enhances well-being. A civil atmosphere, according to the USD institute, reduces stress, anxiety and physical health issues associated with toxic environments, such as high blood pressure.
Civility, the institute says, strengthens community and society: “Civility functions as a form of ‘social glue’ that connects people, fosters a sense of belonging and encourages the cooperation necessary for a healthy, functioning community.”
There is hope that lack of civility can work to the detriment of the perpetrator and give others pause before using it. As an example, in the May 2026 Tempe, Arizona, City Council election, a two-term incumbent called a fellow council member an obscene name during a heated exchange about support being withdrawn. The perpetrator, heretofore popular among the electorate, finished dead last and was run out of office.
According to Maxwell Leadership, whose mission is to empower people to lead through powerful, positive change, civility builds trust and strengthens relationships.
Trust, according to Maxwell, is the foundation of effective leadership, built through consistent, respectful communication. Civility, it says, is about demonstrating the value of those we engage with, even when we disagree with their ideas.
Maxwell claims that workers who rate their workplace as uncivil are three times more likely to be dissatisfied with their job and twice as likely to consider leaving.
By fostering civil conversations, leaders build trust. Their employees are more likely to share ideas, take risks and work collaboratively when they know their contributions will be respected. A respectful environment allows for sharper focus, better decision-making and higher overall productivity.
Emotional tension de-escalated
Far more than mere politeness, civility allows diverse groups to communicate, innovate and solve problems without descending into toxic dysfunction, Maxwell concludes. Civil behavior helps to de-escalate emotional tension before it turns into full-blown conflict or harassment. It keeps disagreements focused on ideas rather than personal attacks.
Our own efforts at Independent Newsmedia’s Civility Learning Lab, launched in late 2025, are patterned to that end.
The CLL is designed to promote civil discussions of local and public issues. The free, non-subscription platform features a multi-part series of expert opinions, resources on civil discourse and our Civility Pledge to foster respectful community engagement.
Among key features and goals of CLL are providing educational content by hosting articles and perspectives from subject-matter experts, educators and ethicists from universities on the importance of civil discourse.
Our platform provides users with a Civility Checklist and a formal Civility Pledge to guide public debate and preserve First Amendment rights.
“This initiative is intended to unite Arizonans on the importance of preserving the First Amendment and to expand awareness by engaging in community discussion on public issues with accountability and kindness,” Independent Newsmedia CEO Charlene Bisson said. “We have faith in the public’s ability to make good decisions if we provide a solid understanding of community issues and a place to debate and develop their opinions. We believe our communities need a platform to debate the issues and share the best ideas to affect change in their neighborhoods, cities and towns.”
Visitors to the CLL website will find opinions on a variety of subjects that are free to use with credit to the author and where it originally appeared and the CivilityLearningLab.org. They’ll also find Opinions With Civility, a rack card, which can be downloaded and printed, featuring civility guidelines and information on submitting letters and op-eds.
The site also includes articles on civil discourse from subject-matter experts, including:
• “Respectful restraint vs. leading with love” by Adam Seagrave, Ph.D. and “What is civility and why must we cultivate it?” by Joan McGregor, both of Arizona State University.
• “Now is the time to teach civil discourse” by Sherman Elliott of Grand Canyon University.
• “Stop screaming! The more you listen, the more you’re heard” by Nadine Arroyo Rodriguez of Mesa Community College.
• “Civil discourse: Sign of a healthy civilization” by Sarah Marie Walker of Northern Arizona University.
Lee Shappell is opinions associate with Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA’s Arizona newsroom. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
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