Civil Discourse

Definition: "Civil discourse is engagement in discourse (conversation) intended to enhance understanding".  I can't imagine how Washington has become so broken, but I am sure it is in part due to the fact that civil discourse is NOT practiced.  I hear it even at our dinner table, and every time I turn on the TV to hear people of opposing opinions speak.  To me, civil discourse means;

• hearing every person's opinion without interruption.
• eyeing the person speaking.
• always being allowed to finish a sentence, even if a person is gathering their thoughts to finish a point.
• speaking up, but not over others as they speak.
• being a contributor even if it is contrary to the current person's point.  This is never done in mumbled opposition, but contributed politely at the end of the speaker's sentence.
• remembering that some people, like myself, don't hear well, or are separated by enough distance to make it hard to hear.
• changing the subject at an appropriate point.  
• a group discussion doesn't mean your thought is important or even cared about by others.
• humor should be used, but not off-color or with vulgarity.
• off-color or vulgarity can emphasize a point, but you may lose your audience.

Just some thoughts.  -- Enough