The horrific murders of Charlie Kirk, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, have shocked Americans and reminded us why civility is central to our nation. The important lesson that we should learn from these tragedies is that hatred and political violence have no place in the United States or any democracy, regardless of who you are, what you believe, or what party you support.
Democracy relies on civil discourse, respect for our fellow citizens, and civil action among citizens, even if their views are significantly different. Our democracy guards the free speech of all people and protects them from physical violence or discrimination for what they believe. Civility allows us to coexist peaceably with those around us, even if we don’t agree.
Pragmatically, protecting the rights of others creates an environment where our rights will also be protected. Our shared understanding that we do not act with violence or hostility toward those we disagree with protects all of us. If you disregard civility and freedoms, then you cannot expect that the protections for you and your party will hold if another group comes to power. Choosing civility is both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do.
Civility is not the responsibility of one party or another; it is a calling of a democratic nation, its leaders and citizens. It’s notable that all the living former presidents spoke out against political violence in response to the murder of conservative activist Kirk. President George W. Bush expressed his hope that “God guide America toward civility.”
Civil discourse takes practice and patience. It’s not always easy to engage in civil conversation with people with radically different views, particularly in these polarized times. And yet it’s absolutely necessary if we are to respect our foundational freedoms and expect a peaceful society. In fact, President George Washington, recognizing how important civil discourse is to a democracy, had a collection of guidelines called the Rules of Civility which guided his behavior.
Democracy is a verb. We all have a choice in how we engage others in conversation. Together, let’s embrace civility and reject hostile and violent action – even when it comes from our own community.
Follow the George W. Bush Institute’s Democracy is a Verb series
Links to Other Content
https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/civility-is-our-eternal-project
https://www.bushcenter.org/publications/practice-civility-by-recognizing-opponents-human-dignity
