Schedule of Events for February 17, 2012
At a time when political discourse seems to be a path to paralysis, this forum brings together prominent humanities scholars, political thinkers and journalists to explore the meaning of civility and its role in American democracy. Moderated by Tom Ashbrook, award-winning journalist and host of WBUR’s On Point.
Coffee (8:00 AM)
Welcome (8:30 AM)
- Steve Crosby, Dean of the McCormack Graduate School of Policy and Global Studies at UMass/Boston
- David Tebaldi, Executive Director, Mass Humanities
- James A Leach, Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities
Session 1: Civility in American History (9-10:30 AM)
Is civility really as American as apple pie? What about American individualism and self expression, the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement? Is incivility an ineluctable element of American-style democracy? Can civility accommodate political change and facilitate social progress? This panel raises fundamental questions about civility and American democracy.
- Randall Kennedy, Michael R Klein Professor of Law at Harvard Law School
- Jill Lepore, David Woods Kemper ’41 Professor of American History and chair of the History and
Literature Program at Harvard University - John Stauffer, Chair of the History of American Civilization Program and Professor of English and African and African American Studies at Harvard University
Session 2: Civility and Morality (10:45 AM-12:15 PM)
Is civility simply a smokescreen to maintain the status quo? Does it encourage conformity and inhibit dissent? Is civility sometimes in conflict with other important moral values? Civility demands that we respect all religions, but at what price? Can a new civility lead to a better informed citizenry? This panel explores the relationship between civility, morality and the demands of justice.
- Austin Sarat, William Nelson Cromwell professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst
College - David L Smith, John W Chandler Professor of English at Williams College
- Alan Wolfe, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Boisi Center for Religion and Public
Life at Boston College
Lunch Break (12:15-1:15 PM)
Session 3: Civility and Culture (1:30-3:00 PM)
Are calls for civility a distraction that marginalizes the individual and inhibits an honest examination of absolutes? Does the practice of civility evolve differently in different cultural experiences? What happens to civil discourse when ordinary political conversation becomes shrouded in the sacred? Can civil discourse lead zealots to reconciliation and mutual respect? This panel examines fundamental questions about the value of civility across cultures.
- Diana Eck, Professor of Comparative Religion and Indian Studies at Harvard University and chair
of the Religion Department - Mark Lilla, essayist and historian of ideas at Columbia University
- Ilan Stavans, Lewis-Sebring Professor of Latin American and Latino Culture and Five College 40th
Anniversary Professor
Session 4: Civility and the Media (3:15-4:15 PM)
Are the media part of the problem or part of the solution? In the competitive, ratings-driven world of mass media,
where is the market for civility? Is the “problem” of incivility a fiction propagated by the media? This panel of distinguished journalists reflects on the day’s discussions and what can be applied from them to improve journalistic best practices.
- Ellen Goodman, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and author
- Joe Klein, journalist, author and weekly columnist for Time’s “In the Arena,” covering national and international affairs.
- Kathleen Parker, Pulitizer Prize-winning, syndicated columnist for the Washington Post
