Civil Discourse
By Elizabeth Felix
COSLI Class of 2017
Student at Western State Colorado
Americans are divided by just about everything under the sun. This should be what makes our country so exciting to live in--it should be a good thing that we all have different ideas about how to be better. It should allow for productive debates and conversations that lead everyone to greater understanding. However, a recent condemnation of violence that should have been uncontroversial instead sparked an outcry on one side of my campus and nothing from the other. While this event occurred on the grounds of Western Colorado University, I am compelled to believe that the problem demonstrated here lies in the heart of every institution from schools and businesses to government agencies to the kitchen table.
The problem is the lack of civil discourse and the failure to give every individual respect. Far too many times I have heard someone say, “Of course, I respect everyone, except for those who believe…” Shouldn’t we respect everyone and treat them with dignity even if we do not agree with their opinions? If we fail to do so, some people will end up shouting their beliefs and others will be too afraid to speak up.
All of this begs the question: how do we practice and promote civil discourse? First, there needs to be intellectual humility – the understanding that we can all learn from each other. This might seem like a tall order for academia, but it is necessary for us to get anything accomplished. Intellectual humility and honest discussion allow us to give people with opposing opinions the chance to speak and be heard. We may or may not change each other’s minds, but the ability to respectfully “agree to disagree” has been lost, and with that, so has the opportunity to deepen our own understanding. We all seem to avoid any discussion, perhaps for fear of being “incorrect” or somehow embarrassing ourselves. This dogmatism is inherently dangerous for everyone and for the greater good.
Additionally, we need a willingness to listen attentively to those who challenge us. We need to practice an openness of mind for everyone, even those whose opinions we’ve already deemed reprehensible. We need to oppose any action that silences the voice of another, even if we disagree with what they have to say. We would be outraged if our voice was silenced, so we should not silence others. “Cancel Culture” only encourages groupthink and censorship. Our academic institutions should be the first to embrace what our society cannot seem to: listening and truth-seeking.
There is truth in the expression, “As iron sharpens iron, so does one man sharpen another” (Proverbs 27:17). We have so much to learn from each other, so why don’t we start listening? Too often we jump to the “hot topics” and decide we dislike someone for their opinion without ever knowing who they are. It is easier to attack under the mask of anonymity than to disregard someone we truly know. So here’s the challenge: get to know people. As simple as this may sound, this is the foundation of civil discourse. And--bonus--you might have something in common.
