WALLA WALLA VALLEY CIVILITY PROJECT
It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are
black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown….And yet it
goes on and on.
When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies—to be met not with cooperation but with conquest, to be subjugated and mastered.
Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land….Surely we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow men and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our hearts brothers and countrymen once again.
In opening and continuing dialogues with those with whom we have disagreements or differing perspectives, there are a variety of tools to help us be good listeners, as well as speakers. To model and advocate for civil behavior, thoughtful preparation is important, and can be enhanced by participation in trainings such as the Bridging Our Differences workshops put on by Civility First, a grass-roots movement founded in Washington state whose goals are to create communities where all members treat each other with civility and respect.To accomplish this, we are asked to
- promote listening to and learning from people with perspectives
different from our own.
- agree to model civility and respect in our public lives,
including and especially when in conversation with those with whom we
disagree.
- commit to courteously challenge hurtful and disrespectful
behavior.
- ask other individuals, as well as civil and religious organizations and politicians to pledge to do likewise.
More information on Civility can be found at www.civilityfirst.org, and at www.wwcivilityproject.blogspot.com.
WHAT
IS CIVILITY?
• Respect
• Courtesy
• Non-judgement
• Listening
• Kindness
• WHAT IT DOES NOT REQUIRE
• Giving
up beliefs
• Being
passive
• Staying
silent
• Backing
down
• Agreeing
• Avoiding
conflict
•
KEYS TO CIVIL
CONVERSATION
•
Say what’s on your mind respectfully
•
Listen to the other person with
the goal of understanding
•
Thank them for listening to you
CIVILITY
PLEDGE
In order to create communities where
everyone is treated with civility and respect, each of us affirms that we will:
1.
Value honesty and good will while striving to solve problems.
2. Attempt genuinely to
understand the point of view of others.
3. Model civil behavior and
language, online as well as in public, by:
·
Being
kind while maintaining the right to vigorously disagree.
·
Acting
respectfully toward others, including opponents.
·
Listening
carefully to those who disagree with us, as well as to supporters.
·
Making
only accurate statements when defending a position.
·
Refraining
from demonizing adversaries.
4. Encourage others to practice these civil behaviors.
5. Challenge disrespectful behavior, courteously.
6. Renew our efforts, if we fail, and forgive others, if they fail.
Name: ___________________________________
Email: ___________________________________
Please send a copy of your pledge to Walla Walla Valley Civility Project, PO Box 1222, Walla Walla WA 99362, or by email to civilityprojectww@gmail.com. Also, please let us know if you are interested in participating in a training or otherwise becoming part of the Walla Walla Civility Project. Our phone is 509-593-0470.
7-1-22
WHAT ARE CIVILITY ORGANIZATIONS?
Religious congregations, cities, counties,
institutions, and organizations who through their governing boards affirm the
principles of the Civility Pledge and aspire to encourage and promote civility
within their organization and their community.
HOW DO THEY DO THIS?
Sign the Civility Pledge as an organization.
Encourage and promote civility in their activities
by working to create a culture of civility among their members and employees
and with the public they serve.
THE CIVILITY PLEDGE
As a Civility Organization, we aspire to:
Value honesty and good will while striving to solve
problems.
Attempt genuinely to understand the point of view of
others.
Model civil behavior and tone, online as well as in
public, by:
Being kind while
maintaining the right to vigorously disagree.
Acting respectfully
toward others, including opponents.
Listening to those who
disagree with us, as well as supporters.
Making only accurate
statements when defending a position.
Refraining
from characterizing adversaries as evil.
Challenge disrespectful behavior, courteously.
Encourage any person or organization working on our
behalf to meet these same standards for civil discourse.
Renew our efforts, if we fail, and forgive others,
if they fail.
Dated this ____ day of ______________________, 2022
_____________________________________
NAME OF ORGANIZATION
_____________________________________
Presiding Officer
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE JOINED THE WALLA WALLA CIVILITY PROJECT
INCLUDE:
The Walla Walla Diversity Coalition
The Walla Walla Friends Meeting
Walla Walla Historic Cemeteries
INFORMATION ON A WALLA WALLA VALLEY CIVILITY PROJECT PARTNER
WALLA WALLA DIVERSITY COALITION
The Walla Walla Diversity Coalition was formed in 1994 under its original name Walla Walla Race Unity Coalition. Its mission is to promote communication, respect, and understanding among all members of the human community.
The Coalition values, seeks to prevent discrimination against, and promotes cooperation among all members of the human community, regardless of culture, color, religion, gender, sexual identity, national or ethnic origin, age, handicap, or other differences.
The Coalition has been the organizer of the following events:
1. Diversity Day Multicultural Arts Festival.
2. Freedom from Discrimination Month in the Walla Walla Valley.
3. Coalition Meetings open to the public, including agenda time for any new concerns regarding human relations in our community which may be presented by any member of the public.
Participation in the Walla Walla Diversity Coalition is open to agencies, organizations, businesses, and individuals of all backgrounds interested in promoting unity as well as appreciation for diversity in our community.
For more information, see https://wwdiversitycoalition.org/ or contact Tebraie Banda-Johns, President, 509-527-5177, bandajot@whitman.edu.
