Politics

Director of Operations for Hampton Roads Weekly MPS Political Management While many will blame my millennial generation for the lack of civil discourse, they are certainly not the only generation to blame.  With the rising use of technology in our lives, it has prompted many individuals to hide behind screens.  People feel much more powerful when they can “hide” behind their computer screens.  Comments and discussion threads online have become sets of personal attacks on others.  People are more willing to speak their mind through an online post, rather than having an open conversation, face-to-face, in real life.  These viral arguers do not feel threatened or show any remorse when posting their negative opinions online.   There has been a fine line cre

On Tuesday, July 30th, the Virginia General Assembly hosted a Special Joint Session in Jamestown, Virginia to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the first legislative body to operate in the New World.   The featured guest was the President of the United States - Donald J Trump.  This ceremony was supposed to be a non-partisan celebration of Virginia’s rich history and the foundational beginnings of what would one day become the United States of America. For the most part, all of the goals were accomplished.  We had dignitaries from throughout the world in attendance; however, some of Virginia’s own elected officials unwisely decided to play partisan politics and “boycott” because President Trump was to be in attendance.  There are certain special occasions when po

Dr. Kara Coe MA, PsyD, MS Licensed Clinical Psychologist, CSOTP, CGS, CSAC, GS Fellowship/Post-Doc Training at Harvard Medical School-Dept. of Psychology Owner, The Bishopsgate Department Store Without other recourse, the American media has recently focused its lazy eye on human morality in response to many of President Trump’s decisions. A cursory Google search of “has America lost its moral compass” provides an arsenal of scathing interpretations. In an article from The Daily Caller, Christine Dolan posits “America sold its soul to fame, power, money, and celebrity long ago,” citing the Kardashian Empire as an example of our moral compass. Similarly, in The Washington Times, Cheryl Chumley writes “President Trump’s decision making, and behavior exhibit…amoral(ity)” wi

When Barack Obama was campaigning for president, he said, in no uncertain terms, that he would transform this country. This made me extremely nervous as I thought America was the land of equal opportunity but not necessarily equal outcomes.  Obama’s positions on public policies, especially healthcare, were very troubling to me.  And, as a business owner, expensive!  His policies would have a significant impact on my business and our company’s bottom line.   While Obama was President, I did the best I could with the policies, taxes, and regulations imposed by his administration.  I had to come to realize that whether I liked it or not, Obama was the President.  And, yes, he was my president.  To me, it was going to be a long four years.  I had no

According to definitions.net, “civil discourse is engagement in discourse intended to enhance understanding.” Kenneth J. Gergen describes civil discourse as “the language of dispassionate objectivity,” and suggests that it requires respect of the other participants, such as the reader. “It neither diminishes the other’s moral worth, nor questions their good judgment; it avoids hostility, direct antagonism, or excessive persuasion; it requires modesty and an appreciation for the other participant’s experiences.” (www.definitions.net, 8/4/19). Social media is anything but social. It has encouraged anonymous posts that are full of anger, disrespect, rancor and ignorance. Let’s have a conversation begin with sincere listening to one another’s side of the issue. Let’s thoughtfully point out

At age 16, Washington had hand copied 110 rules on civility and decent behavior, originally attributed to a 12-year-old boy. While some might be relegated to the arcane and silly, the spirit of the majority of the rules was the code of politeness and respect for other people. It is the essence of the Golden Rule; to do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  In the words of Scripture, the second great commandment, is to love thy neighbor as thy self.   Where is this virtue in our culture and political discourse today? While it is alive and well in our churches and synagogues on Saturday and Sunday, it is possibly being administered the last rights in the civil discourse of our national politics, the media coverage, and the streets of America.  Most of us dese...