Civility Is the Foundation of Community

A couple of weeks ago, historian David McCullough told a funny story to a crowd of nearly 700 community members in Sarasota. His tale got to the heart of a divide in our country that feels as frustrating to accept as it seems impossible to repair. We all would do well to heed his wise advice.

Mr. McCullough was discussing why disagreeing with another person’s politics doesn’t mean we have to despise the person too. He shared a story of walking to the White House with the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, who was about to meet with then-President George W. Bush. McCullough recalled the senator railing against the President’s policies, grumbling things like, “The President is doing this!” and “I can’t believe the President wants to do that!” Growing concerned about the imminent confrontation he foresaw, McCullough asked Kennedy, “Senator, you do realize you’re about to meet with the President?” To which Kennedy replied, “Of course! I like the President; I think he’s a great guy!”

In his disarmingly folksy way, David McCullough did what he does so well: He shared a profound and universal lesson through an iconic story rooted in his sensible witness to history. If the Liberal Lion and Bush-43 could treat each other civilly—and actually like one another as people—perhaps we all might remember that finding common ground actually serves the common good.

To read more, please visit SRQ Magazine to read Mark Pritchett's March 18 SRQ Daily guest column.