Antidote to disrespect available at NIC today
Steve Cameron Staff Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 8 years, 9 months AGO
Surely the time has been coming, that point when everyday citizens decide they’ve endured enough — and decide to push back against the rudeness and lack of respect that has infected society.
We know an effort to restore dignity and common manners is coming, in fact — because some of that time working to rekindle civility will be spent today.
That’s certainly the goal of several local groups — including the Coeur d’Alene Task Force on Human Relations and various organizations at North Idaho College.
Thus the school will host a large and potentially dramatic one-day conference, beginning this morning.
The event is titled: “Returning Civility to America’s Democracy: The Promotion of Civil Dialogue.”
The conference will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Schuler Performing Arts Center in Boswell Hall.
The keynote speaker will be Cornell W. Clayton, a national and global authority on interpersonal relationships and behavior who has written widely on the subject and is director of the Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service at Washington State University.
In addition to a wide range of speakers, including active and former political office-holders and a diverse group of religious leaders, the conference also will also put the spotlight — quite literally — on the media.
A special media panel will discuss civility in daily life, and reporting of it, beginning at 2 p.m.
Editor Mike Patrick, City Editor Maureen Dolan and columnist Sholeh Patrick will represent The Press on the panel, which will involve all types of written, visual and audio media organizations.
“It’s so critical that the media points out important things, even things that appear to be just a part of everyday life,” said Tony Stewart, longtime member of the human relations task force.
“Civility falls into that category,” he said. “If no one is there to remind the public that one incident showing lack of respect leads to an entire society acting out and treating each other poorly, pretty soon everyone takes it as normal behavior.
“That is where the media can step in, explain the issue, and let the public say: ‘No! This isn’t right.’”
Although the conference is intended to remain non-partisan, the lack of civility in current political campaigns (and public disagreements in general) has brought even more focus to this growing problem.
“It clearly was time to address this subject, and with the people who understand it on a day-to-day basis,” said Graydon Stanley, vice president of student services at NIC.
“So many things have come together to put a focus on a problem that has gotten worse instead of stabilizing. Our campus diversity group, along with the ASNIC (Associated Students of North Idaho College) and our teachers, as well — they’ve all been vocal about how to deal with this lack of civility at so many levels.
“It was just such a great fit that the task force people like Tony and (task force president) Christie Wood have been trying to restore civility in our lives for so long. Putting together an event with the incredible quality and experience of these people, and getting just the right keynote speaker, the timing was ideal.
“I just think we all believe these issues have to be discussed from several different viewpoints, and we have to talk about taking steps on a path in the opposite direction.”
Stanley and Stewart both indicated the startling surge of technology, and particularly the internet, has contributed to stunning insults being exchanged in routine conversations.
“The whole concept of anonymity, being able to throw out opinions while dehumanizing someone else, has created a kind of monster so fast that people sometimes feel helpless,” Stewart said, “and that’s understandable.
“No one really has all the answers for chat rooms and bullying and the dangers of people with no accountability. But we have to start talking about where to start.
“It’s pretty obvious to see where ignoring the internet and social media has brought us. So wherever it goes, clearly there have to be events like this — and all levels of society have to pay attention.”
The conference is open to the public at no charge, and NIC will have food service operations working all day for attendees who don’t want to leave campus during the program.
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