30 Days of Love: 2/30

By Ted Resnikoff

It used to seem that civil discourse was a matter of course, and one of the reasons for this was that before the era of the Internet most of the time when someone spoke it was to another living breathing person. Internet and communications technology has made it much easier for voices to be heard at the same time it has made it less costly to immediately say whatever comes to mind in response. We have witnessed the proliferation of disembodied voices spread through our culture and we have participated in allowing the quality and civility of what is said decline. The problem is not the quality (or lack thereof) of content – it is the lack of civility and humanity in the use of language to express the content. At the end of 2011 there were more than 180 million active blogs around the world(1), and the average American household received more than 118 TV Channels (2). As of August, 2011 78% of American adults use the Internet (3), 99% of American households have at least one television (4). So much media and such great access to it can be greatly empowering – we see, read and hear many more people voicing their opinion and support causes than was possible before. But it has also been an excuse to reduce the civility of public discourse – and that should not be allowed to stand.

January 20, 2013. Commit to Civil Discourse

From the 30 Days of Love Campaign of Standing on the Side of Love: Daily Action: In honor of Inauguration Day tomorrow, ask your federal lawmakers to commit to civil and respectful discourse in the new legislative session. Click here to take action. Action for Youth: Take part in No Name-Calling Week, an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds. This year the event runs from January 21 to 25. There are lessons and activities for elementary, middle, and high school-aged youth, a creative expression contest, and more! Action for Families: Ask your child to define these two words: “love” and “justice.” Write the definitions down and see if they change over the course of the month. Featured Organization: - Your Words Count: http://yourwordscount.org Resources: - Five Tips for Creating Civil Discourse in an Era of Polarization - Today is World Religion Day, established in 1950 by American Baha’i National Spiritual Assembly and now celebrated in many countries. It’s purpose is to celebrate the commonalities between religions & the potential religion has for furthering world peace.
ssl_30days_logo_small
Respect_30_days_Civil_iStock_000008130181XSmall