F**k you. I Can Say Whatever The Hell I Want.

Civility is on life support.

Civility and compassion are gradually dying, and many people feel that acting like a jerk count as political activism. In a world full of opinions, we all believe we have something worthwhile to share, no matter how harsh or vulgar we might be to one another.

This isn't healthy for society or any democracy. We can't have meaningful debates about significant problems if we can't communicate with one another politely. If we're too busy insulting one another, we won't be able to solve the challenges that we all face together.

OMG… Like… Kindness is so last century.

In this climate of political confusion, common courtesy has been re-framed into something ugly. Sadly, respect is now a rare commodity. People are becoming increasingly rude and crass towards each other, often under the guise of political activism or free speech. We've become a world where "asshole" has become an insult that some people wear as a badge of honor.

People began to believe that in order to get their message through, they needed to be more aggressive and less courteous. This is not how our society should work. We must remember that we are all human beings deserving of respect, even if we disagree with someone else's point of view. It is critical that we retain civility in our relationships with one another, especially during times of political turbulence. How can we hope to make progress if we can't be polite to one another?

Excuse my bad behavior.

To dismiss the simple kindness humans should have for each other, some people have turned ordinary decency into something they use to excuse their bad behavior. Civility and kindness were re-framed into "political correctness," a term many people mistakenly believe is just the government's way of imposing its will on them. Political correctness is a term that was created to describe the act of being civil and kind to each other.

I think the issue some people have with this idiom is the word "political." It leads many to assume that the government is somehow forcing them to think differently. Political correctness is not the government’s way of trying to impose its will on the people. Besides, being kind shouldn’t have anything to do with a political view; kindness means showing compassion for other human beings without conditions.

Unfortunately, people who are rude and mean to others often try to justify their actions by claiming the government has no right to force political correctness on them. However, being against it should not be used as a cover for bad manners. Being polite and kind should be the norm, not the exception.

It's easier to fear you than it is to understand you.

Differences aren't celebrated anymore, they are feared, and different beliefs are seen as terrifying. Anything remotely different is seen as sacrilegious and must be exorcised from society. People search for anything to justify their fears, and feed their hatred, because their fears are a part of who they are, and without them, they have no identity. Some people also hide behind the belief that they are protecting their children, and somehow it makes their bad behavior okay. We can all be a champion for our kids without being an asshole.

Mirror, mirror

Take a minute to reflect on the events of the last few years and what they represent when viewed through the prism of social civility, you will immediately see that individuals that exhibit a lack of civility have achieved success with their approach. Politicians, celebrities, media outlets, and others who have used their platforms to discuss things with little restraint, frequently resorting to name-calling, derision, and insulting speeches, and in some cases, downright racist, directed at those whose beliefs differ from their own, made bad behavior seem normal. And society, like children who learn from their parents, mirrors their actions. Unfortunately, people who follow these behaviors and beliefs do not understand that they’re being led by a blind shepherd over a cliff, bleating at their impending doom, thinking it’s the promise land.

All we need is… Ta-ta-da-da-da.

What we really need right now is more civility. Civility means being polite and respectful to others, even when you disagree with them. It means listening to other people's points of view, and trying to see things from their perspective. It means treating people with kindness and respect, no matter who they are or what they believe.

We need to remember that civility matters – it's the foundation on which healthy democracies are built. Civility and kindness should be at the core of our interactions with each other. We need to treat others with respect regardless of their political beliefs or opinions. Only then can we fulfill the creed that we’re all created equal.