Public Discourse

Why I Came to Occupy Wall Street and Why I Left: an Introduction

Max Bean | Posted 04.05.2012

Read More: Ows, Public Debate, American Public Discourse, Public Discourse, Civic Engagement, Social Movemnts, Political Activism, Washngton Square, Occupy Wall Street, Union Square, New York City, Politics News
Max Bean

There are so many things about the movement that people ought to understand but that never get properly expressed in the public discussion or the mainstream media.

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Philosopher Christopher Robichaud on Truth and Knowledge In the American Political Context

Matt Bieber | Posted 05.06.2012

Read More: John Stuart Mill, Birthers, Climate Change, Harvard, Presidential Debates, Jfk, Public Discourse, Robichaud, Politics News
Matt Bieber

On Obama's birth certificate, on climate, and in lots of other areas, I think we tend to see people speaking out of need or desire, not clear thought. Tribal, partisan interests dominate discourse much more than an honest pursuit of truth.

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Not Just a Fluke, Rush's Remarks Sting

Marjorie Gilberg | Posted 05.05.2012

Read More: Fluke, Abuse, Youth, Rush Limbaugh Slut, Rush Limbaugh, Public Discourse, Healthy-Communication, Limbaugh, Georgetown University, Break the Cycle, Sandra Fluke, Domestic Violence, Advocacy, Media News
Marjorie Gilberg

I am proud that Break the Cycle had the opportunity to work with Sandra. As often seems to be the case, we have learned much more from Ms. Fluke than we could ever teach her.

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An Invitation to The Great Conversation

Cathleen Falsani | Posted 03.08.2012

Read More: 2012 Presidential Election, The Go-Between God, Jim Wallis, Public Discourse, Conversation, Human Needs, Faith, Civility, Abraham Maslow, Religion News
Cathleen Falsani

At the dawning of 2012, we find ourselves in nervous, troubling times not unlike 1943.

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Writing About Science And Religion Within The Promise Of Rosh Hashanah

Noah Efron | Posted 11.29.2011

Read More: Religion, Internet, Science, Religion and Science, Public Discourse, Civility, Judaism, Science and Judaism, Religion News
Noah Efron

The promise of Rosh Hashanah is that sometimes you can do the same thing, with courage and faith and maybe a sense of humor, and different results will come. Which is why I'm writing again about religion and science.

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I Am Not A Bible-Waver

Rev. Anne Howard | Posted 09.05.2011

Read More: Karen Armstrong, 4th of July, Faith, Compassion, Christianity, Social Justice, American Public Discourse, Public Discourse, Religion and Politics, The Beatitudes Society, Bible Waver, Jacob Needleman, American Civility, Civil Discourse, Religion News
Rev. Anne Howard

We sure don't need any more screaming. My inbox and my Facebook feed fills up every day with screams from my favorite progressive organizations and people, faith-based and otherwise.

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Washington Post, New York Times Fail on FOIA

Brec Cooke | Posted 07.16.2011

Read More: Freedom of Information Act, Foia, Freedom of Information Laws, Public Discourse, Freedom of Information, Media News
Brec Cooke

With much editorial commentary frequently limited to no more than 750 words, one would think that two of the nation's premier news organizations would jump at the chance to educate the public on the ins and outs of public disclosure laws.

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The Orientalist Narrative Distorting the Egyptian Struggle for Freedom

Abdulrahman El-Sayed | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Egypt Protests, Arab World, Islam, Arabs, Egypt Revolution, Public Discourse, Egypt, Discourse, Orientalism, Politics News
Abdulrahman El-Sayed

Just as my well-meaning acquaintances pigeonhole me, orientalists attempt to fit the history and politics of Muslims or Arabs into a greater arc that is dominated by cultural or religious stereotypes.

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Logic, Guns and Mental Illness

Gloria Duffy | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Major Depression, Mental Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Public-Policy, Public Discourse, Anxiety Disorders, Suicide, Bi-Polar Disorder, National Institute of Mental Health, Columbine Killings, Personality Disorders, Guns, Mental Illness, Tucson Shooting, Schizophrenia, Commonwealth Club, Virginia Tech Massacre, Jared Loughner, Anti-Social Disorders, Gun Control, Automatic Weapons, Second Amendment, Politics News
Gloria Duffy

The logic is absolutely clear -- the more guns in private hands, the more people will be shot and killed each year in the US. The more guns in private hands, the greater the number will be of mentally unstable individuals with guns.

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After Tucson, the State of the Union

Jim Wallis | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Liberals and Conservatives, Human, Sojourners, War in Afghanistan, Low, Compromise, Immigration System, Immigration, Arizona, Priorities, Marginalized, Commitment, Republican, Media Forums, Senator Tom Coburn, Members of Congress, Conflict, Liberals, Health Care, Biggest Banks, Union, State of the Union, Civil Discourse, State of the Nation, Attack, Public Discourse, Veterans, Senator Charles Schumer, Politics, Horrible Tragedy, Common Ground, Congress, Families, Rediscovering Values, Moral Issue, Recession, Barack Obama, Corporations, Demonization, Republican Senator, Disagreements, Orphan, Change, Reflection, National Commitment, Political Leader, State of the Union Address, Conservatives, Politics News
Jim Wallis

The speech Barack Obama gave in Tucson was a memorial to the victims of a horrible tragedy, but the spirit of his speech could also shape Tuesday's State of the Union address by calling us to be worthy of each victim's sacrifice.

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Return Civility to Washington

Sen. Mark Udall | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: House of Representatives, Senate, Congress, Public Discourse, Tucson Shooting, Obama State of the Union, Gabrielle Giffords, State of the Union Address, Bipartisanship, Bipartisan, Petition, Gabrielle Giffords Shooting, State of the Union, Civility, Politics News
Sen. Mark Udall

Last week, I called on Congress to make a symbolic gesture of national unity by abandoning the traditionally partisan seating at the President's State of the Union address -- and the idea is catching on.

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Arizona Tragedy Breathes Life Into Discourse Debate

Jonathan Merritt | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Arizona Shooting, Arizona, Public Discourse, Gabby Giffords, Sarah Palin, Political Incivility, Lessons of the Arizona Tragedy, American Civility, Civil Debate in America, American Political Discourse, Glenn Beck, Politics News
Jonathan Merritt

The Arizona shooting is an unmitigated tragedy, but if this event can fuel a transformation in our public discourse, it will be a small glimmer on a dark moment in history.

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Distractions

Terry Newell | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Political Rhetoric, Media Hype, Public Discourse, Politics News
Terry Newell

What do the following have in common? "Death panels", "The Party of No!", "Save Social Security," government bail outs, Sarah Palin's latest gaffe, t...

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Conviction and Civility in American Public Discourse

Richard J. Mouw | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: LGBT Politics, Civility in America, LGBT Issues, Public Discourse, Christianity and Homosexuality, Civility in Politics, Religious Civility, Evangelical Christians, Civil Discourse, Cultural Civility, Religion News
Richard J. Mouw

People these days who are civil often lack strong convictions, and people with strong religious convictions often are not very civil. What we need is convicted civility.

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Seven Steps to Civility This Election Season

Jim Wallis | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Neighbor, Debate, Jim Wallis, 1 Corinthians 13, Cia, Scripture, Economy, Target, Opinion, Main Street, Faithful Witness, Pray, Election Season, Prayer, Republicans and Democrats, Republican, 1 Timothy 2, Image of God, Common Good, Religious Leader, Civility, Ephesians, Church, Moral Compass, Public Discourse, Common Ground, Community, Democrat, Newspaper, Wedge Issue, Congress, Ground Solutions, Pastor, Religious Leaders, Political Leaders, Rediscovering Values, Democrats, Covenant, Fear Mongering, Candidate, John, Truth and Civility, Republicans, Rhetoric, Politics News
Jim Wallis

This week, a group of more than 130 former legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, released a letter urging for civility and encouraging candidates, once elected, to focus on cooperation to face our country's greatest challenges.

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Be A Teacher, Not A Judge: The Essence Of Yom Kippur

Rabbi Julie Schonfeld | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Yom Kippur, Public Discourse, Judaism, Passing Judgment, Civil Dialogue, Understanding Others, Yom Kippur 2010, Religion News
Rabbi Julie Schonfeld

A primary cause of incivility in public discourse emanates from arrogating to ourselves the role of Judge. On this the Jewish tradition is clear: we are not the Judge. At our best, as my friend pointed out, we may be a teacher.

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Simple Leadership in a Complex World

Terry Newell | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Politics, Public Discourse, Problem Solving, Politics News
Terry Newell

"I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity." - O...

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Take the High Road: Personal Responses to Political Tantrums

Deborah Schoeberlein | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Emotions, Anger, Intolerance, Public Discourse, Self-Awareness, Emotional Wellness, Political Activism, Democracy, Respect, Civil Society, Tolerance, Tea Party, Emotional Intelligence, The Inner Life, Healthy Living News
Deborah Schoeberlein

It takes guts to face anger with inner patience, and take the higher road of ethical responses. But, I believe that we are gutsy as people, and capable of rising to a higher standard.

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On Civil Discourse in Online Forums: Learning From Immigrant Youth

Marjorie Faulstich Orellana | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Perspective, Immigrants, Empathy, Children, Public Discourse, Compassion, Civil Discourse, Politics News
Marjorie Faulstich Orellana

We need wise hearts on all sides of the political spectrum, as we engage with the thorny issues of our day. When, after all, did empathy become a bad word?

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Comprehensive Discourse Reform

Daniel Cluchey | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Michele Bachmann, Public Discourse, John Boehner, Bob Dole, Health Care Reform, Devin Nunes, David Frum, Tea Party, Bill Frist, Republican Party, Barack Obama, Steve King, Politics News
Daniel Cluchey

My feeling is that listening to the Republicans' rhetoric between now and November will be like watching someone continue to blow up an already too-inflated balloon as we cringe and wait for it to pop.

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A Room Without Rants: Where Reasonable Theists and Atheists Meet

Andrew Pessin | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Atheist, Atheism vs. Theism, Rational Inquiry, Atheism, Reason, Theism vs. Atheism, Public Discourse, Theism, Interfaith Dialogue, Reasonable Debate, Religion News
Andrew Pessin

The reasonable theist and atheist may reach opposite conclusions, but both will spend much of their time investigating, in an open-minded (and frequently critical) way, the strongest and most coherent versions of theism available.

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Where Have All The Philosophers Gone?

Tom Morris | Posted 11.17.2011

Read More: Philosophy Departments, Insight, Publishing, Philosophy, Wisdom, Public Discourse, Colleges, Self-Improvement, Academia, Media, Universities, Self-Help, Healthy Living News
Tom Morris

Science pays off in technology and medicine. Where does contemporary philosophy pay off?

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Splitsville

Steven Weber | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Intelligent Design, Conservatives, Liberals, Public Discourse, John F. Kennedy, Fox News, Tea Party, Fair and Balanced, Politics News
Steven Weber

Avowed liberals consider themselves to be loyal to the truth while die-hard conservatives seem only to be loyal. Somewhere in the middle lies the perfect American.

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Reporting on 'Lies' and 'Liars' ...

J. Richard Stevens | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Fox News, Politics News, Public Discourse, Healthcare, Sarah Palin, Politics, Barack Obama, Media News
J. Richard Stevens

If I say that a statement is a "lie," does that mean that I have now accused every person who passes along the statement of lying? Where is the space for misunderstanding? Ignorance? Faulty logic?

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Considering Lies and Liars ...

J. Richard Stevens | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Politics, Joe Wilson You Lie, Public Discourse, Barack Obama, Healthcare, Politics News
J. Richard Stevens

Much remains unsaid in our public space, which is likely one of the reasons the pseudo-public space (cable news, talk radio, email chain letters, etc.) tend towards naked partisanship and nastiness.

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