Positive political discourse starts with you.

When did it become politically correct to preach hatred, to foment violence, to praise assassins? I’m seriously troubled by the tone of the voices rising from the extremes of our country. Where are the peers of these highly inflamed and inflammatory individuals—the people who would have, in the past, given them no sanction? We can but call upon civilized people to turn away from provocative speech, to refuse to listen to the vituperations, to chastise those who generate hate.

If every individual who understands that the current tone of discourse is inappropriate were to turn away and give no credence to those that foment hate and intolerance, if each person were to shun those who speak unbecomingly and distastefully, the discourse would change over time. Reaction is what the reactionaries seek.

If one were at a town hall meeting where the perverse start spewing hatred, the group could sit quietly offering no response to the childish outburst. The speaker, too, could choose to seat him- or herself, turn away, and wait for the tirade to end. One could simply disassociate from the ill-considered behavior and cause the climate of the gathering to change. Children learn to change their behavior when misbehavior no longer works—adults can learn the same lessons.

We must speak out. We must refuse to react to the reactionaries. Count to ten. Walk away. Say, “That is an inappropriate remark.” “Excuse me. I cannot understand you when you talk hate, when you spout bigotry, when you tell lies.”

Be willing to change the conversation. It starts with you and it starts at home.

Peace and blessings (practice the first; count the second).