Civil Discourse, Memorial in Tucson

President Obama's Speech, Curriculum Regarding

At the recent memorial in Tucson President Obama made a speech at perhaps one of the bipartisan events. The memorial in Tucson was made to be a moment to reflect on embracing each other in civil discourse, in conversations that can help us understand each other. To help us see the perspective those of us who hold views different than ourselves. Not necessarily to change our own minds, but to perhaps help us understand where another person is coming from.

The following excerpt comes from the Teaching Tolerance Website:

Here’s one idea about how to proceed. Take this excerpt from the speech:

"But at a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized—at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who happen to think differently than we do—it’s important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we’re talking with each other in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds."

Words can heal or wound, Obama said. We began this essay by suggesting that they can shed light or generate heat. We can think of other comparisons—do we speak to convince others or to understand them? Do we want speeches that inspire hope or fear?