A quiet rebellion is brewing; a rebellion of a different kind — not against a ruling power or an oppressive law, but against the pervasive culture of hostility that has infiltrated public discourse. Led by the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), a consortium of over 50 city and town officials, the movement aims to foster a more respectful and productive civic engagement. The weapon of choice? The “Civility Pledge.”
The adoption of The Civility Pledge by our First Selectman, Fred Camillo, and our Republican Registrar, Fred DeCaro, symbolizes a vital shift towards fostering more successful exchanges. In a truly democratic society, freedom of speech is not just a constitutional right, it is a cornerstone of a thriving intellectual ecosystem. John Stuart Mill, a notable philosopher and political economist, once said, “If all mankind minus one, were of one opinion, and only one person were of the contrary opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person, than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.”
In today’s highly interconnected society, disagreements often fan the flames of conflict, rather than promote understanding. The Pledge serves as a response, a potent reminder of the sanctity of diverse perspectives and the principle of free speech.
The Pledge leans heavily on the principles of freedom of speech. It acknowledges the need for a diversity of ideas in public discourse, emphasizing that varied viewpoints stimulate cognitive development, creativity, and understanding of complex issues. But there’s a stark difference between facilitating free speech and fostering a shouting match.
To address The Civility Pledge meaningfully, we must understand the addictive nature of anger, which often fuels incivility. Our brains are hardwired to repeat actions that stimulate the reward center. “Anger activates the reward center in the human brain,” claims a study published in the Journal of Neuroscience in 2023 (see our article on anger addiction on page ##). It serves as a coping mechanism, offering an illusion of control and power in situations perceived as threatening or distressing. Social media and blogging platforms often further perpetuate this addiction, escalating disputes and inhibiting meaningful discourse.
The Civility Pledge can be more than just a call for change; it potentially redefines the norms governing public discourse, advocating for a shift from confrontation to collaboration. An often-quoted Winston Churchill said, “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.” Signing The Pledge is a commitment to this kind of courage, demonstrating the potential for politics to be an arena of constructive debate rather than a battlefield of contention.
The Pledge localizes a global initiative to reflect on personal and societal discourse norms and transcends its political origins, appealing to those who believe in the principles of civil discourse, free speech, and mutual respect. It encourages those participating to examine their own communication patterns and to take a deeper look at the idea that life during the pandemic response may have shifted the reward center in our brains toward fear-induced anger. Letting go of that anger may be more difficult than we imagined.
Aggressive rhetoric does not validate an argument; it only erodes the potential for constructive dialogue. Respect, empathy, and free speech can coexist. Rigidity in thought systems can be detrimental to the social fabric. It contributes to the creation of echo chambers, where only conforming opinions are amplified, leading to intellectual stagnation. An analysis published in 2018 found that communities where a single set of ideas were dominant exhibited “lower levels of creativity, problem-solving capabilities, and adaptability to changing circumstances.”
The Civility Pledge serves as a potent reminder that, even in the face of division, positive transformation is attainable. Signing the Pledge is the initial step, but it’s the consistent adherence to its principles that will demonstrate true leadership and generate tangible change. Camillo and DeCaro have paved the way and we hope others will follow.
