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CWR=20
Connecting Worlds - Inside Black=20
=
America
Civility and =
Public=20
Discourse
By Leona =
Johnson,=20
=
Ph.D.
"So=20
let us begin anew - remembering on both sides =
that=20
civility is not a sign of weakness, and =
sincerity=20
is always subject to proof."=20
=
<=
/SPAN> --=20
John F. Kennedy, 35th President of =
the United=20
States=20
|
Leona=20
Johnson,=20
=
Ph.D.
In=20
this day and age, there have been a number of =
incidents=20
that have caused us to ponder the issue of =
civility in=20
public life. Civility can simply be defined "as =
the=20
quality of being polite". Public discourse is a =
dynamic=20
process that individuals undertake as they =
discuss=20
public issues in open space. There is a direct =
link=20
between public discourse and civility. =
Our=20
public life can be torn by significant moral and =
political disagreements. Our common life as a =
people can=20
suffer from the strain of conflict based on =
public=20
discourse. The resolution of our disagreements =
is=20
crucial to the common good, to the set of =
conditions,=20
that as a people we work together to provide for =
one=20
another so that we might all flourish =
(Tollefsen, 2009).=20
Just=20
recently, President Obama addressed a memorial =
service=20
for those killed in Arizona last week and urged=20
Americans to "make sure that we are talking with =
each=20
other in a way that heals, not a way that =
wounds"=20
(Welch, 2011). He went on to =
say that=20
"the loss of these wonderful people should make =
every=20
one of us strive to do better; to be better in =
our=20
private lives, to be better friends and =
neighbors, and=20
coworkers, and parents. And if - as has been =
discussed=20
in recent days, their death helps usher in more =
civility=20
in our public discourse - let us remember it is =
not a=20
simple lack of civility caused this tragedy, it =
did not=20
- but rather because only a more civil and =
honest public=20
discourse can help us face up to the challenges =
of our=20
nation in a way that would make them proud" =
(Grantham,=20
=
2011). =20
=
So=20
what can we do to encourage civility relative to =
public=20
discourse? Skorton (2010) says it best: 1) =
Assume that=20
all opinions have value and that we can learn =
from=20
others, no matter how harsh the words; 2) Follow =
one of=20
the old axioms of civil debate, go after the =
opinion,=20
not the person enunciating it, and 3) The golden =
rule is=20
golden for a good reason, all of us need to do =
unto=20
others as we would have them do unto=20
us.
How=20
we handle public discourse has an impact on our =
well=20
being and the political climate of our nation. =
When we=20
are polite and civil to each other we can "face =
the=20
challenges of our nation" and work together for =
the=20
common good and care of others. The more that we =
are=20
aware of our conversations, the better we =
understand the=20
need to be civil in public discourse.=20
=
Bibliography=20
Grantham,=20
C. (January 13, 2011). President Obama on civil =
public=20
discourse. Retrieved January =
17, 2011=20
from http://www.christiangrantham.com//2011/01/13president=
-obama-on-civility =20
Skorton,=20
D. J. (2010). Civility. The Cornell Daily Sun.=20
Tollefsen,=20
C. O. (2009). What is Public Discourse? Public=20
Discourse: Ethics, Law and the Common=20
Good.
Welch,=20
W. M. (2011). Obama: Our hearts are broken. USA=20
Today.
=A9=20
Copyright Donell Edwards Media, 2008 -2011. All =
rights=20
reserved.
|
About Leona=20
Johnson, =
Ph.D.
=20
Leona=20
M. Johnson, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of =
Psychology=20
at Hampton University. Dr. Johnson =
received her=20
Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Howard =
University,=20
with a subspecialty in Industrial/Organi- =
zational=20
Psychology. Since fall 2004, Dr. Johnson has =
been an=20
Assistant Professor of Psychology at Hampton =
University,=20
where she teaches Methods of Behavioral =
Research, Senior=20
Seminar in Psychology, Industrial/Organizational =
Psychology, Black Psychology, Black Child =
Development,=20
and Learning and Cognition. Previously Dr. =
Johnson=20
worked in various positions in Corporate America =
at the=20
IBM Corporation, L'Oreal Corporation, and =
Lockheed=20
Martin Corporation. In addition to =
teaching, Dr.=20
Johnson is actively involved in research on =
learning=20
preferences and the classroom climate, culture =
and=20
learning, teaching and learning styles, group =
dynamics,=20
and issues pertaining to the Black=20
family.
Contact Information <=
/TABLE>
Email: Leona@CWRMagOnline.com
=20
All=20
information and material contained in The =
College World=20
Reporter=AE (CWR) are subject to copyrights =
owned by=20
Donell Edwards Media and contributing writers, =
and other=20
individuals or entities. Any reproduction,=20
retransmission, republication, or other use of =
all or=20
part of any article found in The CWR is =
expressly=20
prohibited, unless prior written permission has =
been=20
granted by Donell Edwards Media or the =
appropriate=20
copyright owner. All other rights are =
reserved, and=20
violators will be prosecuted to the full extent =
of=20
applicable laws.
The=20
CWR=20
logo, It's A =
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World logo, Connecting =
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logo, and the names, Leader's, =
Mentors,=20
and Role Models; Career=20
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marks in The CWR which are owned by =
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Edwards Media and other individuals or entities =
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|
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information presented there.=20
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