This is part five of a five-part series of opinions on civil discourse written by subject-matter experts in Arizona for Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA’s Civility Learning Lab.
For more information, to read opinions on a variety of issues and to find a list of Arizona newspapers that accept opinion submissions, visit civilitylearninglab.org.
OPINION — The term, “civil discourse,” makes many of us think of national leaders engaged in coded White House correspondence, verbal smackdowns by our favorite political figures or important historical speeches. Applied to our daily lives, we might conjure images of voting or boycotting ... and the last political fight we had with a cousin during a holiday meal or more commonly, over social media.
Civil discourse is the act of engaging in discussion about our shared societal concerns. Basically, people gather ideas about what a good society is and how to go about making one. Then, people use those ideas (often unconsciously) to decide who would make good political leaders and which issues are most important. Our greatest agreement currently? We are bad at civil discourse.
Why? Well, because discourse means potential disagreement, and disagreeing with another person can be stressful and frustrating. Participants told the Pew Research Center in 2019 that political discourse was less respectful, less fact-based, with less emphasis on issues than it had been in years. Thats a troubling perspective, because discourse is our alternative to more brutal practices of governance.
We engage in discourse because we claim to prefer verbal disagreement to violent revolts or state oppression. At ground level, regular use of and expectation for civil discourse is a sign of a healthy civilization, and without discussion, societies — even important ones —crumble.
How can we keep our society from falling like Rome? We debate. Here are a few pointers to start:
Examine your values
Take the time to consider what your core values are, where you learned them and how they motivate you. Knowing what matters and why helps you determine where you can find compromise, and what has to be in place to earn your trust. People likely have a reason for why they think or believe the way they do, and that reason is valid and important to them, just like your reasons are important to you. Asking “Why do you think that?” can be an illuminating conversation starter.
Focus on ideas
No politician, alive or dead, is more important than the laws, decrees and policies which impacted others. Stop asking people who they are voting for and start asking what policy or issue they are hoping will change, and how. True, not every idea is feasible, moral or even factual, but that doesn’t mean the person is fundamentally evil or stupid. There is no weakness in holding ideas to a high standard of common sense and evidence.
Tell the truth, tactfully
Get familiar with the detailed and tested facts of a policy, procedure or issue. Use those facts to support your perspective, not as a blunt weapon to one-up your cousin on their latest online hot take. Chances are, you will not solve the major budget issue your state has by respectfully debating your neighbor. But every discussion focused on truthfully, realistically resolving problems, can give our society a clearer idea of what we can all agree on.
Sarah Marie Walker is an assistant teaching professor and director of forensics and debate at Northern Arizona University. She wrote this for Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA. 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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