The Damage Done By Uncivil Discourse

It seems to me this is a topic that everyone should be thinking about. It's a topic that's bigger then just a Presidential election cycle, but that process and reality has certainly had a major impact on civil and uncivil discourse in our society recently. The fact is, how we talk to and about each other is an important part of how societies function. Most of the development of governing models has revolved around finding ways for people to communicate and discuss issues in a civil manner.

The discourse we're seeing today didn't just happen because of one particular candidate. All of this has been brewing for a long time and there's plenty of blame to go around relative to why people are feeling unrepresented, disenfranchised, beaten up and beaten down. I happen to believe that elected officials and bureaucrats are responsible for much of the problem as it has evolved over time. People have gone to meetings and to officials trying to approach things in a logical and respectful way. Too often they have been put off by excuses, shuffling of papers, or hearing blame placed on the opposition or some other political scapegoats. Enter Donald Trump, a nativist, a marketer and a showman.

I have to admit, there are some times when it's been enjoyable watching Trump at work just from the perspective of understanding human nature, marketing and showmanship. It's fascinating to watch him work a crowd with stream of consciousness like remarks. It's similar when he's questioned by reporters. Watching him not answer questions or bounce around the subject, raising new topics, etc. is certainly interesting. It does make one wonder how he gets away with it.

There is a very dark side however to what he has unleashed and to me, it all ties back to civil and uncivil discourse. The worst thing Trump has done, is that he's given permission to people to denigrate and speak ill of others. It's what school yard bullies do all of the time, perform for the crowd and put other people down. Say hurtful things and goad people into striking back. It's not just bad manners, it's dangerous. Some of what we're seeing play out is akin to mob rule and could easily evolve into that. As crowds shout USA, USA or Trump, Trump to silence protesters who raise their voice or a sign, it's easy to make a leap toward intolerance and violence. I've actually heard stories of people saying to someone else that they're going to "pull a Trump" on them and just be mean and rotten in their treatment and interaction. This is not at a rally but during normal day to day social contact.

Yes, the real danger and damage that Donald Trump has done is that he's made it acceptable to bully people, to dislike Mexicans because they are Mexican (not because they're immigrants), to build a hatred toward Muslims, to make fun of people with disabilities. This is certainly not civil discourse and honestly it will make it harder for civil discourse to take place as people lash out at people, things or systems they don't like.

In many communities there are groups of people trying to find ways to encourage civil discourse. Sometimes they are church based, organizational based or sometimes they just citizens trying to make sure there is a forum for reasonable and civil conversation. We should all try to seek them out or if necessary start the conversation ourselves.