October 4, 2012 Redux in 2016
Oct. 4 ~ Civility supports the dignity of all persons by allowing all to speak. #civility
If civility is truly marked by calmness, honesty, clarity and fairness, then I absolutely believe incivility is marked by shrillness, dominance, disenfranchisement and theft of voice. Incivility will eventually attempt to shout the other down, to drown out opposing ideas and to make the other silent.
Civility gives the gift of allowing all to speak. And in doing so, civility safeguards not only the dignity of the other, but also your own. Being civil and allowing the other to speak is not an endorsement of what is said, but it is a recognition that we must give the same respect that we would receive.
toddthomas.net 