Real Civility

With the current discussion of civility, I find myself thinking about what civility really is. There are some who have criticized me and called me uncivil for use of the word "stupid." I have to say that there are times when I feel that "stupid" is the right word. I’ve called people “stupid” for expounding positions that are anti-human. For instance, I thought it was stupid for Bruce Sessions to say that he feared Sotomayer was unqualified to judge because she had “empathy.” A judge without empathy? God help us.

When Plaxico Burress went into a nightclub and shot himself in the leg, I don't feel it's name calling to say that it was "stupid."

I think that the people who wanted to ban Obama's speech encouraging children to stay in school and who called it a "socialist plot"--well, those people could easily fall into the stupid category. A President not allowed to speak? Let's not undermine democracy to that point when we claim that the men in the armed forces are being sent off to die for democracy.

The other night during Obama’s speech when I saw members of the US congress sitting with little hand-made signs taunting the President of the United States I thought of words much stronger than stupid. I won’t even comment on the fella who shouted, apologized, and then un-apologized.

We've become a society of strident comment on one side and tepid discourse on the other. I long for someone in power who will talk straight and not always have built-in deniability. For instance, I was sickened that in Obama's health speech he hinted at his willingness to forget a public option rather than sticking with his earlier assertions that a public health option had to be part of any bill he would sign.

At the same time, I long for an end to the noise from people who just want to stir up hate for the sake of self-promotion, media ratings, and money.

I have friends—some of whom have corresponded with me recently--whose civility I appreciate. They are able to see what is going on and somehow never raise their voices or get outwardly furious at people who are a constant impediment to human progress. But I don't have the same thermometer. So bear with me when I rant against people who will do anything but admit that when a person is born, he/she deserves guaranteed health care, food, housing, clothing, and at least an even playing field for progressing beyond the crib. I will enjoy my life more when there aren't people who are sick from preventable diseases, when there aren't people enduring painfully infected teeth, when there aren't people living with correctable physical deformities, and when there's aren't people dying just because they lack health insurance.

While I'm at it, I'll also enjoy life more when there aren't people who are homeless, hungry, or ill-clothed. And I won't mind if it raises my taxes. After all, I've been forced to pay taxes all my life to finance the carnage of wars to which I've been absolutely apposed. So some taxes for the good of others, my pleasure.

To work to prevent people from having basic rights is the height of incivility. So back to my beginning point, I believe that true civility is doing whatever one can to improve absolute human rights, and providing every person (even illegal immigrants) what they need to live with dignity.

I think most humans actually share those values. I also think there are many people in Washington (and on Wall Street and in the pharmaceutical and insurance businesses) who do not--and who would be happy to attend funerals rather than see their portfolios decline. Maybe I should quit calling that stupid and just say it’s evil.

Wouldn't that be civil?