:: What is Civility? Why is it important? Who should care? ::
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Civility: The act of
showing regard for others
showing regard for others
Civility is behavior in public
that demonstrates respect
for others and that entails
curtailing one’s own
immediate self-interest,
when appropriate."
- George Anderson
Diplomate in Psychotherapy, A
Fellow in the American
Orthopsychiatric Association
that demonstrates respect
for others and that entails
curtailing one’s own
immediate self-interest,
when appropriate."
- George Anderson
Diplomate in Psychotherapy, A
Fellow in the American
Orthopsychiatric Association
"In the context of public
discussion “civility” mean
much more than merely
being polite. Civility also does
not mean biting one’s tongue
in an effort to not make
waves. Dissention is an
absolutely necessary part of
democracy. Civility has to do
with the way that public
discourse exists in an
atmosphere of justice, fair
play and integrity. Open
discussion of competing
truths should not have to
polarize communities; it
should make them stronger."
- a symposium on civility and civic
dialogue.
discussion “civility” mean
much more than merely
being polite. Civility also does
not mean biting one’s tongue
in an effort to not make
waves. Dissention is an
absolutely necessary part of
democracy. Civility has to do
with the way that public
discourse exists in an
atmosphere of justice, fair
play and integrity. Open
discussion of competing
truths should not have to
polarize communities; it
should make them stronger."
- a symposium on civility and civic
dialogue.
"You best be civil to each
other; being an ass won't
help you get ahead with
anyone.'
- A composite of all things my
siblings (there are 6 total-all
girls!)
other; being an ass won't
help you get ahead with
anyone.'
- A composite of all things my
siblings (there are 6 total-all
girls!)
WHAT IS CIVILITY? The answer is
simply; the act; not always so simple.
“Civility is claiming and caring for one's identity,
needs and beliefs without degrading someone
else's in the process.”
- Suggested Citation: Institute for Civility in Government
Co-Founders, Rev. Cassandra Dahnke and Rev. Tomas
Spath
simply; the act; not always so simple.
“Civility is claiming and caring for one's identity,
needs and beliefs without degrading someone
else's in the process.”
- Suggested Citation: Institute for Civility in Government
Co-Founders, Rev. Cassandra Dahnke and Rev. Tomas
Spath
Civility is an attitude that lawyers will treat everyone (opponents, witnesses
and judges) with dignity and respect. Respect is the foundation of civility as it is
to good sportsmanship, good manners and the Golden Rule. We as trial
lawyers are expected to fight the good fight but we must always remember that
our individual and collective reputations and the viability of the legal system are
more important than any disputed issue or case. We seem to have forgotten this
and that is why our reputation has fallen to such depths. Although lawyers have
always been subject to scorn because we take sides in hotly contested public
disputes, even William Shakespeare acknowledged that we understood civility
in his day when he wrote the following passage in The Taming of the Shrew:
“And do as adversaries do in law - strive mightily but eat and drink as friends.”
- William B. Smith; Abramson Smith Waldsmith, LLP
San Francisco, California
Is it Possible to Legislate Civility?
Legislating civility can be a tricky undertaking, as one Northern California city
discovered when it considered adopting a code of conduct for council members
thatemphasized civility. The proposal garnered international attention and was
(probably unfairly) characterized as an effort to stifle free expression (possibly
because the policy discouraged the use of facial expressions to signal
disapproval). Some agencies have had better success with codes of ethics that
generally emphasize respect for those with divergent viewpoints. The theory
underlying such codes is not to create an enforcement mechanism so much as
to create an opportunity to engage in discussion and identification of shared
values. As political scientist Sapiro noted, “Civility is itself something that needs
to be sought, deliberated and negotiated.” On the other hand, the Greek
philosopher Aristotle believed that virtuous behavior had to be voluntary and
that civility is a form of virtuous behavior.
- Institute for Local Government; Promoting Civility
at Public Meetings: Concepts and Practice
George Washington, sometime before the age of 16, transcribed Rules of
Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation. (Original errors in
numbering have been corrected; original spelling is unchanged.) (There are a
total 110 such rules; I have only include 5; selected at random; but 1)
1st Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to
those that are Present.
44th When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him
that did it.
51st Wear not your Cloths, foul, unript or Dusty but See they be Brush'd once
every day at least and take heed that you approach not to any Uncleaness.
89th Speak not Evil of the absent for it is unjust
110th Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little
Spark of Celestial fire Called Conscience
Click here to read all 110
What do you think? Can you write 110 rules of Civility? How about 90? 60?
Why not try 25? At the very least, there should be 10 you can cite!! Goodness I
hope there's at least 10 you can cite.
Challenge yourself! Try to write out a list of Your Top 10 Rules of Civility!
Let us know what you come up with.
and judges) with dignity and respect. Respect is the foundation of civility as it is
to good sportsmanship, good manners and the Golden Rule. We as trial
lawyers are expected to fight the good fight but we must always remember that
our individual and collective reputations and the viability of the legal system are
more important than any disputed issue or case. We seem to have forgotten this
and that is why our reputation has fallen to such depths. Although lawyers have
always been subject to scorn because we take sides in hotly contested public
disputes, even William Shakespeare acknowledged that we understood civility
in his day when he wrote the following passage in The Taming of the Shrew:
“And do as adversaries do in law - strive mightily but eat and drink as friends.”
- William B. Smith; Abramson Smith Waldsmith, LLP
San Francisco, California
Is it Possible to Legislate Civility?
Legislating civility can be a tricky undertaking, as one Northern California city
discovered when it considered adopting a code of conduct for council members
thatemphasized civility. The proposal garnered international attention and was
(probably unfairly) characterized as an effort to stifle free expression (possibly
because the policy discouraged the use of facial expressions to signal
disapproval). Some agencies have had better success with codes of ethics that
generally emphasize respect for those with divergent viewpoints. The theory
underlying such codes is not to create an enforcement mechanism so much as
to create an opportunity to engage in discussion and identification of shared
values. As political scientist Sapiro noted, “Civility is itself something that needs
to be sought, deliberated and negotiated.” On the other hand, the Greek
philosopher Aristotle believed that virtuous behavior had to be voluntary and
that civility is a form of virtuous behavior.
- Institute for Local Government; Promoting Civility
at Public Meetings: Concepts and Practice
George Washington, sometime before the age of 16, transcribed Rules of
Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation. (Original errors in
numbering have been corrected; original spelling is unchanged.) (There are a
total 110 such rules; I have only include 5; selected at random; but 1)
1st Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to
those that are Present.
44th When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him
that did it.
51st Wear not your Cloths, foul, unript or Dusty but See they be Brush'd once
every day at least and take heed that you approach not to any Uncleaness.
89th Speak not Evil of the absent for it is unjust
110th Labour to keep alive in your Breast that Little
Spark of Celestial fire Called Conscience
Click here to read all 110
What do you think? Can you write 110 rules of Civility? How about 90? 60?
Why not try 25? At the very least, there should be 10 you can cite!! Goodness I
hope there's at least 10 you can cite.
Challenge yourself! Try to write out a list of Your Top 10 Rules of Civility!
Let us know what you come up with.
Why civility is important; and who should care is stated below; in the most
diverse of perspectives. When they're on, they're on ... Some of this might
surprise you. It did us.
diverse of perspectives. When they're on, they're on ... Some of this might
surprise you. It did us.
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To live a long, healthy and
serene life we need the
crucial help of a network of
caring people – we need
social support. In order to
gain and keep social support
we need social skills.
- Dr. P.M. Forni; Professor
Johns Hopkins Civility Project.
Johns Hopkins University
serene life we need the
crucial help of a network of
caring people – we need
social support. In order to
gain and keep social support
we need social skills.
- Dr. P.M. Forni; Professor
Johns Hopkins Civility Project.
Johns Hopkins University
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