All Call to Civility

When I was a sophomore in high school, I bought a t-shirt in Ann Arbor, MI, that had a picture of President George H.W. Bush on it and declared “WANTED: For Crimes Against Humanity.”

I actually wore the shirt to school a few times.

To say the least, the shirt (and my matching rhetoric) lacked CIVILITY.  It was sophomoric. (Of course, since I was actually a sophomore, perhaps I can be forgiven for being sophomoric!)

Cut to the chase…

I am increasingly disturbed by a pervasive lack of civility in our world.

We see it in our political debates, when disagreements come up in church or organizational life, at work, in school, while driving… pretty much everywhere.

In terms of political discussion, both sides — right and left — are guilty of it.  No one holds the market when it comes to incivility.

It is easy to get caught up in it… easy to ignore it… easy to pretend like it doesn’t matter.

But if people like William Wilberforce and others have taught us anything, it is that it matters.

I will never be a powerful politician or policy-maker.  My vote will probably never make a big difference.  The debates I have over too-expensive lattes at Starbucks are the privilege of the irrelevant-but-privileged masses.

BUT…

When it comes to personal relationships, when it comes to this blog and conversations I am a part of, I can make a difference — even if it is just a small one.

So I am choosing to EMBRACE CIVILITY moving forward.  I will practice it, model it, and hopefully self-correct when I lack it.  I think embracing civility means treating people with respect and grace, giving them the benefit of the doubt, focusing on issues not personalities, never name-calling.

I have not always written with civility nor practiced it — in person, on this blog, on twitter or facebook.  I will try to do both moving forward — and feel free to hold me accountable when I lack it.

And what does this mean for you?

First, I invite you to make the same pledge: EMBRACE CIVILITY.

Second, at least while commenting on this blog, civility will be expected and comments lacking civility will simply be deleted.

So, ARE YOU IN?  WILL EMBRACE CIVILITY with me?

Let me know…