Civility
June 2, 2008
In the June issue of Portfolio, a Conde Nast monthly magazine, the Editors ask in an article called "The Age of Attack" whether we are at a tipping point of "our corporate culture where civil discourse-politesse about our professional peers- is about to be come defunct?" The Editorial gives the examples of Jack Welch severely criticizing Jeff Immelt his successor at GE and Paul Volcker, the former Chairman of the Federal Reserve making very negative comments on Ben Bernanke, the current Chairman. According to the Editors of Portfolio there has always been a "code that you don’t beat up on the person who takes over from you."
The same question could be asked about our political culture. The presidential political campaign has provided numerous examples of loss of civility when instead of debating issues and ideas, candidates attack each other viciously and question the character of their opponent.
There is room in the public discourse for criticism, but it should never be an attack. A criticism should never be destructive. A criticism of a particular action should be accompanied with positive suggestions.
The etymology of the word "civility" comes from the Latin Civilis which means proper to a citizen. The word citizen comes from the word city. Civility is how one should behave in the "City" or in a close proximity with other people, such as neighbors, co-workers or any other person we come in contact with.
Civility can also be understood as a form of respect and tolerance for others.
Why is civility important? One could argue that without civility, ultimately we would not have a civilization. Without some respect and tolerance for others we would be facing violence and chaos and ultimately destruction of Society. After all, the antonym to civilization is barbarism!
What makes us lose our sense of civility in our actions?
They may be more than one explanation but I imagine that the root lies in our human nature that is essentially selfish. We should try to remember the biblical directive to love our neighbor as ourselves. (Leviticus 19:18)
Jane Adams, the U.S. social worker, sociologist, & suffragist wrote:
Civilization is a method of living, an attitude of equal respect for all men.
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