Discussion Group 1 - Squirrel Hill

This month's topic: Incivility in Public Discourse

(Please see end of listing for more about PFC's Monthly Discussion Group 1 - Squirrel Hill in general.)

Recently, the owner of a trendy restaurant in Northern Virginia asked Sarah Huckabee-Sanders to leave. Then, a group of protesters heckled the Secretary of Homeland Security and her husband, who were trying to have dinner in a Mexican restaurant.

Is there a limit to what is acceptable in public protest against officials? Or is harassing them in their “private time” off limits? Or is there a point at which egregious racist and/or inhumane actions by government officials make any and all forms of nonviolent protest fair game?

Does such incivility make dialogue and subsequent compromise impossible? Is it even possible to dialogue with today’s Republicans? What if one faction begins to see another as less than human: is dialogue even possible at that point? What if one side believes they are carrying out God’s agenda?

Some articles to provoke your thoughts:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/there%e2%80%99s-a-right-way-to-be-uncivil/ar-AAzdo0G

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/opinion/the-red-hen-and-the-resistance/ar-AAzerk7

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/public-shaming-of-trump-officials-sparks-debate-over-protest-and-civility

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/outside-the-red-hen-america-vents/2018/06/26/81a991a6-7998-11e8-80be-6d32e182a3bc_story.html?utm_term=.faeb91870a25

Hope to see you there!

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General discussion group info:

PFC Monthly discussion groups are open to all - if the topic interests you, you'll be welcome!  Casual dress. Discussion is moderated but informal - speak up as much or little as you wish.  Discussion Group 1 - Squirrel Hill meets upstairs in a private room at the Tan Lac Vien restaurant, with most participants having dinner or snacks from the menu during the discussion.