Civil Discourse
How much backbone is required to listen and think?

The politicians, talk show hosts, TV sitcoms, pundits at Fox TV, and an increasing number of U.S. citizens seems to think it takes too much.

It is easier to rant, to assert unproven and often unprovable opinions as 'facts', and to call names. It is easier to divide than to find common ground. It is easier to be smart mouths that smart citizens. It takes no backbone to find an extreme position and call everyone who doesn't stand with you names.

Backbone. Strength of character. Guts. Courage.

The U.S. neo-Nazis and the Muslim extremists in the Middle East have so much in common. The ranting Christian right and the vicious secular left fit right in with these groups.

My ancestors, who came to this great country seeking liberty, opportunity, and relative peace came to build, not tear down. They came to increase civil discourse and reduce bullying and oppression. Not just my ancestors. Mr. & Mrs. Miller, who taught me at Vaughn Grade School and Peninsula High School were builders. Mr. Wehmhoff, Mrs. Bouvia, and so many others across the nation who have sought to help us live with people who saw things differently, and to build move civilization (note the word 'civil' again) to a more civil opportunity for everyone.

We tout our wondrous gift to the people of Iraq -- select a government by the ballot, not bullets -- while we inflame passions that could lead more to bullets than honest ballots! We tear down at home and abroad.

Some would have us believe that "taking a stand' takes guts. No usually. Mostly it takes a few drinks, some belligerence, and equal doses of stupidity and intolerance.

What takes guts is listening, finding common ground, listening some more, speaking our position without rancor, and letting new knowledge and experience change both our thinking that the thinking of people with whom we disagree.

Sarcastic slurs, cynical slams, and hostile value judgments don't usually clarify, or create better possibilities, or move a people forward. Telling someone to f___ himself may make you feel better (says a lot about what it takes to please you) but it doesn't help our society.

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