Civility and honesty

Jay Mulberry who moderates one of the blogs I follow, The Back Fence, said something that I think is very important.

The meta-discussion of the whole meme of uncivility in criticism of Obama, Joe Wilson's "You lie," and the raucousness of the tea-party protesters has taken a turn toward issues of freedom to speak truth to power. When does uncivility serves legitimate protest and when does it serve the status quo?

Jay wrote:

Civility is generally a good thing, but foolish civility can become mere acquiescence to the status quo. Incivility is often an appropriate way, probably the only way of "speaking truth to power." If you don't believe this, you must believe that power is willing to give way to reason, and if you believe that you are naive.

The current examples of Tea-Party raucousness do not, from my point of view, speak truth to power but use incivility, lies, threats and racism to serve the status quo.

It is their basic dishonesty that disturbs me, not their uncivility.

For me, this settles the question about "uncivil discourse." Be uncivil if need be to make your point -- but be honest.

Ralph