Posted: January 18th, 2010 Tonya Jameson

In politics, we don’t talk anymore. We divide and conquer.

Former Republican congressman Jim Leach of Iowa wants to calm the deafening cacophony of disagreement that has upended political discussion. Leach, chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities, urges for a return to civility to politics. He’s embarked on a 50-state tour called “Civility and Bridging Cultures.” He spoke to a near-capacity audience of citizenra, city leaders and politicians on Jan. 14 at Levine Museum of the New South. North Carolina was the fifth state on his tour.

For 45 minutes, Leach mixed history and sports analogies to examine how our politicians don’t talk to each other anymore. “This concept of civility implies politeness, but civil discourse is about far more than good etiquette,” he said. “At its core civility requires respectful engagement and willingness to consider the views of others.”

Leach compared political climate to the European system of government, in which there are majority and opposition parties. Leach said when he served in Congress, both parties worked together to pass legislation. Today, he says, the role of the minority party has shifted into opposing everything proposed by the majority. He decried the name-calling and demonizing that now passes for disagreement.

Leach expressed concern that our lack of civility for our fellow Americans impacts how we relate to the rest of the world. “Irrational fears of the citizens inflames hate, and coupled with character assassination, polarizing rhetoric can precipitate violence,” he said.

Leach didn’t offer a clear solution to the problem other than electing more civil candidates to office.

The problem, though, is that the lack of civility isn’t unique to Congress. We won’t hold our politicians accountable for their rhetoric until we hold ourselves accountable for our rhetoric. A lack of civility and overall rudeness has seeped into every facet of American life.

Our elected officials are simply mirroring what’s happening everywhere. We as individuals must change our own behavior before we can criticize our elected representatives.

Civility starts at home.

What are some ways that you practice civil discourse?

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