Elizabeth O'Brien retweetledi
We looked back at the Romney vs. Obama and Bush vs. Gore presidential debates...
Sometimes, when we share content reflecting on more respectful political moments, we're seen as naive, or engaging in trivial "kumbaya" messaging or tone policing.
But insults and dehumanizing language aren’t just words. They’re symptoms — and contributors — to more dangerous outcomes. Jim Taylor wrote this piece in 2009 about how, as he saw it, “civility was dead.” (again, 2009!):
“Civility is about something far more important than how people comport themselves with others. Rather, civility is an expression of a fundamental understanding and respect for the laws, rules, and norms (written and implicit) that guide its citizens in understanding what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior… For a society to function, people must be willing to accept those strictures. Though still in the distance, the loss of civility is a step toward anarchy, where anything goes; you can say or do anything, regardless of their consequences.”
And we’d add that insults and threats are often used to stoke fear and anger across the political spectrum, which can ultimately lead to restrictions on freedoms and unconstitutional actions.
The words we choose matter more than we realize. They’re powerful tools that can either promote healthier, more constructive engagement — or erode the very norms that hold us together.
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