XXXIX. The Dumbing Down of Civil Discourse

When did it become acceptable for anger to replace substance as a leadership credential?

In today’s world, where angry rhetoric often overshadows meaningful dialogue, promoting education and engagement to foster civil discourse is more crucial than ever. Ignoring this issue will not make it disappear.

Recently, a political group I follow suggested disengaging from political discussions with those on the opposite side, claiming it's not worth the effort.

I disagree.

This approach concedes too much to those who work to dominate public spaces with misinformation. It gives too much power to words used to manipulate.

This is why staying engaged is essential.

Years ago, I made a conscious effort to talk with those who have differing political perspectives. I wrote for a conservative local paper and took commentary abuse until the publisher was shamed by some of his readership into stopping my effort at balanced viewpoints. I’ve been on the other end of character assassinations by those who hate the principles of DEI. These interactions highlight a troubling shift where personal attacks often eclipse substantive policy discussions. This shift raises concerns about how diminished our educational system has become (sometimes purposefully) in shaping our ability to cope with both facts and differing viewpoints.

Parents face a unique challenge in this environment. In my household, we emphasize the importance of forming informed opinions. We encourage our children to question, discuss, and develop their own views rather than echoing ours or others' sentiments. This approach, though demanding, is crucial in an age where misinformation spreads rapidly, and unchallenged opinions can lead to cult-like behavior. We don’t dictate to our kids what to think, but we darn well expect them to use their critical thinking skills when they do.

Exposing children to diverse perspectives is a vital parental role and a cornerstone of a quality education. The correlation between education levels and political leanings is striking. Urban areas and university towns tend to lean Democratic, while rural and certain affluent areas often skew Republican. While education isn't the sole factor in this divide, its influence is undeniable. Higher education broadens opportunity and exposure, enhancing one's ability to navigate complex issues and see beyond immediate or local circumstances.

Before I get called an elitist, formal education is not the only path to wisdom. Many individuals without higher degrees show character and work ethic, often times better than the “more informed”. I’ve seen lazy minds at all levels in all walks of life. There is no one correct path to becoming more enlightened.

Those with advanced degrees who isolate themselves in intellectual bubbles or detach from broader societal issues are as problematic as those who lack formal education but refuse to appreciate diverse perspectives.

Sarah Silverman gave us a great model of making the effort during the Trump years. She successfully bridged political leanings with her show "I Love You, America," engaging with people across the political spectrum and promoting empathy and understanding. Through humor and genuine conversations, she fostered dialogue on polarizing issues, aiming to humanize those with differing views and encourage civil discourse.

Respecting differences is an essential part of being an American. We will never be or think the same, nor should we. What we must value equally is the constitutional freedom to speak and the responsibility to do it with honor.

Pay attention to entertainment outlets like Fox News, which promotes division to attract and keep viewers and sponsors. For instance, during a slander lawsuit against Tucker Carlson, Fox News lawyers argued his statements were "loose, figurative or hyperbolic," suggesting his words were more opinion and entertainment than strict news reporting. The Dominion lawsuit further revealed internal contradictions within Fox News, showing that while some hosts privately expressed skepticism about certain political narratives, they presented different views in their words that aired, a level of hypocrisy that cost them nearly a billion dollars.

Observe how campaigns communicate with followers and opponents, noting the words and anger levels used. This is intentional. Know it for what it is.

Caring about how fellow Americans are manipulated for monetary gain is important. Reframing issues often takes several opportunities of involvement. As we navigate an increasingly complex world, we must protect an educational and social environment that encourages thoughtful analysis, empathy, and the ability to articulate ideas respectfully. We can’t just leave it to others. Only then can we hope to reclaim civil discourse and address societal challenges with the nuance and depth they deserve.

Stay engaged, no matter what, and try to do it with joy.

• Section has a good up to date list of the best AI Chatbots out there.

• There’s the facade of education and then there’s being educated. Harder to protect what you don’t know and appreciate.

• American government is not based on the bible. One can have both, just don’t misconstrue the facts.

For those of you who have kept up with educational issues, it’s worthwhile to get international assessments and comparisons. We are not the only ones struggling to identify and support what makes a quality education.

There are too many hands in our public education, and it is used too frequently to make political points. Maybe it is a feature of democracies. Control In some corners, freedom in others, allowing it to meander along to mediocrity here, and being purposeful in fixing it there. Pay, morale, top-heavy bloat, and personal wishes vs. educational soundness are all a part of the problem.

But it is a fixable problem, and the answer isn’t to make everyone happy.

That’s a tough sell nowadays.

This is a long but engaging read. The journalist did a great job capturing the anxiety. We are all products of our environment, including the knowledge, ignorance, and experiences that get passed to us. It may have taken this kid leaving home to find the awakening he got. Regardless of the level of preparation, or personal perceptions, a good education doesn’t steal kids. It provokes thought. It awakens them.

It would be the most selfish of acts for a parent to value having their kids close by or close-minded, more than having their kids grow. The first role of a parent is to realize their life is no longer their own; it’s all about the kids and creating opportunities to further their abilities and experiences.

It’s ultimately about giving up control.

Though it seems like one ivory tower is talking to another, this writing covers the streams of thought that make our public school system dysfunctional.

While we've been sleeping, different levels of government have made it easier to provide public funds to private schools through the school choice/charter model. There was a time when this would have been unwise politically, if not outright illegal.

As an analogy, many Americans give and tithe to churches they attend. That relationship is age-old and has been left alone by government public policy on the separation of church and state. On the other hand, if that church runs a school, in some states these religious-based schools can accept students and the public tax dollars that come with it, with very little say over what is being taught in the curriculum. That is a private good being publicly subsidized by public tax dollars with few strings attached.

The author here seems to work through this situation by suggesting expanding choice to the entire public school system while the curriculum itself at any school stays common with public oversight. Essentially, students could attend any school and be expected to learn civics, government, etc., even though they may receive different methods of instruction in each and come to a wide range of conclusions.

It’s an interesting proposal. It gets rid of some barriers between public and private with the promise of public oversight. When you ponder this issue, be mindful of the goals of the Project 2025 education agenda. While we need continuous improvement in our schools, the outcomes I envision from these policies are that poor school districts will remain poor, trained education professionals will be subject to increased parental judgment, and certain subjects will magically disappear in and out of sight, out of mind fantasy world.

There’s nothing you probably don’t know in this opinion piece, but the author does a good job of summarizing for readers. He argues that America's public school system is failing, emphasizing the need for comprehensive education for all societal levels. It criticizes the focus on angry rhetoric over substantive policy discussions and highlights the importance of fostering critical thinking and engagement in educational environments. He does not get to one significant problem I’ve continued to see that voters can control:

Stop putting non-public servants into public service positions.

If you read any part of this newsletter today, I hope it’s this one. Print it and put it on the fridge. Share it with family and friends. On almost a daily basis, I get sent items that are simply not fact. We are in a very unfortunate time that mass media has given us access to the world’s libraries at our fingertips, but it has also released media designed to profit off of your lack of questioning. They know if they can catch you emotionally, get you to like them and listen to them, because they tell you exactly what you want to hear (not facts, not the truth), then they’ve got you, and the modern media is not based upon education but on eyeballs, clicks, and likes.

Know thyself, and know the difference.

Ok. I am in many ways an old soul and a product of old-style public schooling. When our daughter first mentioned she was taking a yoga class in high school, I was skeptical. I had to check my thinking on that. My personal experience with yoga and meditation is that it works, though I had not thought of it in the concept of being in schools.

The concept of practices like this that promote peace and mindfulness, of learning to be in the moment and quiet the mind, is more important than ever. The level of distraction and competition for youth attention has outrun good public policy. I think this works, and schools are a place to learn and practice good habits. I’m now in the camp that efforts like this to slow down should be a regular feature of education.

Civics Champion: Ina Jaffe

Ina Jaffe, a distinguished NPR correspondent, passed away at 75 after a battle with cancer. Known for her unwavering commitment to truth and accuracy, Jaffe's career spanned over four decades, covering politics and aging in America. She was the first editor of NPR's "Weekend Edition Saturday" and later became a leading voice on aging issues, delivering stories with depth and empathy. Her investigative work, including exposing misuse of Veterans Administration resources, led to significant policy changes. Her dedication to journalistic integrity and her ability to bring overlooked stories to light fulfilled the promises of great service to the public.

And Now….

Hope to see you next time. Keep reading, practice your gratefulness, and remember to hold on tight to your dreams. Be a good human.