Park County was privileged last week to host Jim Leach, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and his nationwide “American Civility Tour.”Leach, a former Republican congressman, is traveling the country in an effort to change the climate of political debate in this nation, which has become increasingly hateful and destructive over the last generation. That trend has made it increasingly difficult for the country's leadership to make decisions on behalf of the nation.What is necessary, according to Leach, is civility, which he indicated does not mean simply being polite, nor does it have anything to do with so-called “political correctness.” Rather, it means treating each other with respect, whatever our political differences. Respecting the other person involves listening to his or her point of view, looking at an issue from that person's perspective and trying to understand why he or she thinks that way. Doing so is more likely to lead to rational discussion of differences rather than arguments filled with name-calling.Unfortunately, it is all too easy to fall into such arguments, with opponents questioning each other's patriotism, faith or intelligence. Once that begins, reason is abandoned and all hope of resolution of differences is lost. Today, we are in the middle of a nasty political debate marked by anger and name calling on both sides. Civil debate has been completely abandoned in favor of shouting and negative advertising. Hardly anyone is really listening to the other side.There really isn't anything new about this. American politics have featured such campaigning since the days of Jefferson and Adams, but it shouldn't be that way. In today's climate, this lack of civility has the potential to paralyze our nation's ability to govern itself.We should make every effort to be respectful in our political discourse, listening to those with different points of view and trying to understand why they believe as they do, rather than writing them off as evil.In other words, we urge everyone to be civil.

Park County was privileged last week to host Jim Leach, chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, and his nationwide “American Civility Tour.”

Leach, a former Republican congressman, is traveling the country in an effort to change the climate of political debate in this nation, which has become increasingly hateful and destructive over the last generation. That trend has made it increasingly difficult for the country's leadership to make decisions on behalf of the nation.

What is necessary, according to Leach, is civility, which he indicated does not mean simply being polite, nor does it have anything to do with so-called “political correctness.” Rather, it means treating each other with respect, whatever our political differences.

Respecting the other person involves listening to his or her point of view, looking at an issue from that person's perspective and trying to understand why he or she thinks that way. Doing so is more likely to lead to rational discussion of differences rather than arguments filled with name-calling.

Unfortunately, it is all too easy to fall into such arguments, with opponents questioning each other's patriotism, faith or intelligence. Once that begins, reason is abandoned and all hope of resolution of differences is lost.

Today, we are in the middle of a nasty political debate marked by anger and name calling on both sides. Civil debate has been completely abandoned in favor of shouting and negative advertising. Hardly anyone is really listening to the other side.

There really isn't anything new about this. American politics have featured such campaigning since the days of Jefferson and Adams, but it shouldn't be that way. In today's climate, this lack of civility has the potential to paralyze our nation's ability to govern itself.

We should make every effort to be respectful in our political discourse, listening to those with different points of view and trying to understand why they believe as they do, rather than writing them off as evil.

In other words, we urge everyone to be civil.