Here is a thought for you today from Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas who said this over fifteen years ago. The national discourse has always been challenging. Yes, we must be civil — and I would add “full of grace” — but we must also say what must be said.
“None of us should be uncivil in our manner as we debate issues of consequence…[But] by yielding to a false form of ‘civility,’ we sometimes allow our critics to intimidate us. As I have said, active citizens are often subjected to truly vile attacks; they are branded as mean-spirited, racist, Uncle Tom, homophobic, sexist, etc. To this we often respond (if not succumb), so as not to be constantly fighting, by trying to be tolerant and nonjudgmental – i.e., we censor ourselves. This is not civility. It is cowardice, or well-intentioned self-deception at best.”
As Thomas Jefferson said so long ago about our dialogue, if I may paraphrase, in our country there could be 1,000 great religions and if yours was that one true religion, then how could you advocate for your religion without allowing the other 999? The point here is you should still be able to advocate for your religion, your faith, and your values and not be silenced. To choose not to do so in a contentious national discourse is not the same as civility.