On Thursday, December 1, at 6 PM, Lakeshore’s United Visionaries (L.U.V.) will be convening for another virtual panel discussion hosted by Manitowoc Public Library. Our five-participant panel will feature five L.U.V. Board Members. The focus of this presentation will revolve around Civility and Civil Discourse. Not surprisingly, the name of the program is very straightforward and to-the-point: “Civility”.
We’ll delve into definitions, healthy boundaries, the rules that are in place around the subject of Civility and Civil Discourse, and provide examples of when and how to use both of these concepts. A good portion of the panel will be spent addressing questions from community members. Because good questions lead to engaging conversations. Honestly, our goal is to provide you with information that will lead you to gain some insight into Civility and Civil Discourse, and why these elements are crucial to having decent conversations—even when you engage with those with whom you may not agree.
Why Civility and Civil Discourse? We chose these topics because in today’s social climate, we felt that they were crucial components in being able to have important conversations in a safe and constructive manner. Let’s be honest: we’ve all had frustrating conversations—or rather non-conversations—with those with whom we don’t agree. But, it’s important for our communities to be able to still have civil and engaging conversations.
It’s not about changing anyone’s opinion—it’s about seeking common ground, listening past one’s preconceptions, and being respectful, among other things. It’s about pushing past our discomfort to have difficult conversations while keeping civil and aware that, while opinions may not change, at the very least we can emerge from these exchanges with a little better understanding of other viewpoints. Civil discourse allows communities to communicate, which in turn provides them with an opportunity to grow and thrive.
This panel is the third in a three-part series where L.U.V. has addressed topics that we feel are pertinent to our community members as a whole. We are grateful that Manitowoc Public Library is partnering with us to present topics that are relevant and timely.
L.U.V. was created in 2020 in the wake of the George Floyd murder. Our mission is to uplift the lives of marginalized individuals. Our goal is to recognize intersectional identities through allyship, awareness, education, understanding, and love. We are devoted to helping and supporting our racially and ethnically diverse community, while making our community more welcoming and inclusive. Learning how to separate misinformation from fact will help make our community a safer place for everyone.
We hope that you’ll join us on either MPL’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/manitowoclibrary) or their YouTube channel for this lively conversation revolving around “Civility” on Thursday, December 1 at 6 PM. It’s definitely a conversation worth having.
