Jim Newberry’s civil discourse

–WRITTEN BY MEDIA CZECH, rescued from the great Blogger rapture of May 12th, 2011.

Jim Newberry’s new Digital Media Empire to Crush the Souls of the Unbelievers is off to a wildly successful start, as it has become the go-to online destination for Lexingtonians to catch up on college baseball and horses that won a race ten years ago.
We mentioned this Monday, but I think KY Forward’s “civility pledge” deserves another look:

The KyForward team is committed to developing a Civil Discourse pledge for ourselves and reader-responders to our website. We recognize the importance of changing the tone of the conversation around public issues and believe that solutions can only be advanced when all voices are respectfully heard so that workable compromises can be forged in a free society. We understand that the compelling issues we face today have no easy fixes, but that a democracy requires “common views of common” people and thoughtful dialogue is the best way to find the common ground.

Here is an example of a pledge developed by the Arizona Humanities Council that we think covers the principles we would want to embrace.

“I pledge to engage in the basic principles of civil discourse: to respect diverse points of view, listen with an open mind and speak with integrity. I call upon all civic leaders to meet the challenge of solving difficult social issues by adhering to these principles, thereby creating a better world for ourselves and future generations.”

— Arizona Humanities Council

What should our Civil Discourse pledge say? How would you write it? What kind of pledge would you like to sign – and would encourage others to sign?

For now, let’s look beyond the odd Arizona reference or the familiar KY Forward call for other people to do their work for them. Civil discourse, changing the tone, respect, thoughtful dialogue… heck yeah that sounds great!

But it kind of reminded me of an email that Jim Newberry sent out to his supporters just before he was unceremoniously fired by the citizens of Lexington in his blowout loss last November. You may remember these excerpts from this oldie but goodie:

Subject: Liar

*****

Let me be clear: Jim Gray is a liar, pure and simple.

*****

Jim Gray is like a spoiled child…

*****

Jim Gray stands alone … a liar … delusional … debasing himself…

*****

Jim Gray is a liar.

Civil discourse, FTW!

I wonder what Ernesto Scorsone thinks about Jim Newberry’s commitment to civil discourse?

Or maybe this is all nothing of any consequence?

Oh, that’s just crazy talk. KY Forward is possibly the most important thing ever, the beginning of a great and powerful empire that will launch Jim Newberry back into relevance and power. No lie. Or delusional debasing, we swear.