According to the Institute for Civility, “civility is about more than just politeness, although politeness is a necessary first step. It is about disagreeing without disrespect, seeking common ground as a starting point for dialogue about differences, understanding biases and personal preconceptions, and teaching others to do the same.”

What does civility have to do with commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States? Everything! Not only did our Founders call for civic virtue and respect for each other as citizens, our modern leaders have called for civility.

“I believe that if we stop talking at each other and start talking with one another, we can get a lot done.”   President Barak Obama

“Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism, over community over chaos.”  President George W. Bush

“We cannot learn from one another until we stop shouting at each other – until we speak quietly enough so that our words can be heard as well as our voices.”  President Richard Nixon

“Civility is not a sign of weakness. Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.”  President John F. Kennedy

Perhaps no one summarized the importance of civility in our civic and political activities than P. M. Forni, co-founder of the Civility Center at Johns Hopkins University.“ The more a society relies on self-regulation – the more civil it is – the less need it has to legislate and the less it will be plagued by coercion, conflict and litigation.”