Recent times have exhibited to the world a rapidly mounting lack of civility among our American populace.

There are, of course, countless examples of man's incivilities to fellow man over centuries. Yet, based on what we read, see and hear of late, this offensive trait has become commonplace. When it festers and is adopted by ever-greater numbers of people, we become much more susceptible to influential thought control — regardless of whether we like that term or not.

Insult has become a norm, for it is easy to fabricate an accusation. The "put-down" has become easier to render than carrying on a civil discussion of differing ideas or philosophies. Deliberate distortion of another's thoughts or beliefs has become perfectly acceptable. False comparisons of ideas, people, or beliefs have become a common offensive strategy. If one cannot, or does not wish to define a reasonable counter-thought, then one resorts to obfuscation and demagoguery.

Political discourse appears to have become significantly more coarse and accusative than in past times. Lines are more frequently drawn in the sand, with less-frequent willingness to hear out those with whom one disagrees. There seems a grand decision has been made by some, that their beliefs and versions of virtually any subject are the only acceptable, honest or real ones. They give little credit that others might have a valid contrary point, or that there could be a differing thought worthy of consideration.

Where has the idea of polite discussion and potential compromise gone? Why are we so rigidly unwilling to allow others to state their case without interruption or claims as to their lack of integrity?

Our nation has become much more bitterly divided than in the past. Accusations of unpatriotic actions of others are dispatched daily. A taking up of arms is routinely called for, even proudly and publicly demonstrated. Gun and ammunition sales are at highs, with new laws enabling carrying of weapons in parks, schoolyards, and places of worship routinely approved.

Formerly meaningful local meetings for exchanging ideas and information have become uncivil shouting matches often based on unsubstantiated, emotional claims. Comparisons of others to demented or unstable figures and despots in history have become the rallying cry of commentators and public figures. Lightly disguised racial invective simmers in the pronouncements of many public and private citizens. These are all frightening and sinister signs of a democracy under substantive pressure.

It appears that the gross lack of common courtesy, an unwillingness to allow that ideas of others could possibly have merit, and a distrust of the their motives, have all surfaced at this immensely crucial time in the history of our democratic republic. We are more than 300 million fortunate and free Americans, yet we are almost certainly and deliberately being turned against each other, much as happened before our horrendous Civil War.

We must not allow ourselves to be sundered again by a relatively small number of individuals who appear to hold that they are the only totally patriotic and intelligent beings left within our borders. The time for a gigantic chill-out is upon us as a nation.

We have a system of governance that works better than all others, despite inevitable bumps in the road. We need to believe in and preserve it. We need to start acting as grownups that can sincerely accept, if not love, our neighbors and their rights to differing beliefs, as well as those of all whom we will never even know. Let us re-establish civility, truth-telling and tolerance as the true starting point — even as we rightfully maintain honest and different beliefs.

David Brown is a retired business owner and former corporate executive
in Washington, D.C., who now lives in Santa Fe.