As a followup to the tragedy of last week, the following was presented at a local gathering with the hope of attaining a more civil discourse in public life.  These remarks were presented by Tucson Councilman Steve Kozachik.

Enjoy:

I WANT TO THANK EACH OF THESE LEADERS FOR EXTENDING TO ME THE INVITATION TO JOIN IN BRINGING THIS MESSAGE

I’M HONORED TO BE NUMBERED AMONG THESE PEOPLE – EACH OF WHOM SHARES THE COMMON DENOMINATOR OF MAKING HUGE PERSONAL SACRIFICES FOR THE GOAL NOT OF SELF AGGRANDIZEMENT, BUT WITH A SINCERE INTEREST IN MAKING THIS A BETTER COMMUNITY IN WHICH TO LIVE.

AND IN THAT PROCESS, EACH OF US HEARS A VARIETY OF VOICES,

EACH OF WHICH BRINGS TO US NEEDS, WANTS, AND OFTENTIMES WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS BEING SOLUTIONS TO THEIR OWN PARTICULAR ISSUE

AND, DARE I SAY “ARMED’ WITH THOSE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, WE MEET IN OUR RESPECTIVE GOVERNING BODIES AND REPRESENT TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITIES THE INTERESTS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS.

AND WE DELIBERATE AND WE DEBATE AND FAR TOO OFTEN WE FAIL TO ENGAGE OUR COLLEAUGES WITH THE NOTION IN MIND THAT THEY TOO ARE REPRESENTING A SET OF VOICES

INDEED, NONE OF US COMES TO THE DISCUSSION AS A BLANK SLATE

AND WHOSE VOICES ARE WE ALL HEARING? IT’S THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

AND WE ARE A DIVERSE PEOPLE – AND THE ‘SOLUTIONS’ ARE THEREFORE NECESSARILY DIVERSE

SO WE DELIBERATE AND WE DEBATE AND FAR TOO OFTEN OF LATE,     

WE DENIGRATE,  AND WE DISMISS ANY POSSIBILITY THAT IN NOT SIMPLY

LISTENING,         

BUT IN ACTUALLY HEARING OUR COLLEAUGES WE MIGHT JUST LEARN THAT THEY TOO BRING A WORTHY PERSPECTIVE TO THE TABLE

IN OUR ZEAL TO REPRESENT THE VOICES WE HEAR, WE SEEM TO HAVE LOST THE PERSPECTIVE THAT ‘OUT OF MANY, WE ARE ONE”

AND SO WE DRAW LINES IN THE SAND AND ENGAGE OUR COLLEAUGES IN THE SPORT OF CONFRONTATION,

WITH A ZERO SUM GOAL –   MY SIDE MUST WIN, WHICH MEANS YOUR SIDE MUST

LOSE

AND IN THAT SPORT – WE WILL ALL LOSE

INDEED, TAKE A MOMENT TO CONSIDER WHAT  WE ALL HAVE LOST

THIS PLEDGE IS ABOUT CIVILITY

IT IS NOT ABOUT COMPROMISING OUR INDIVIDUAL PRINCIPLES

IT IS ABOUT HOW WE GO ABOUT STANDING FOR THOSE PRINCIPLES

IN A MANNER THAT RESPECTS THE FACT THAT IF WE IGNORE THE DIVERSITY OF VOICES THAT EXIST IN OUR MIDST

WE IGNORE THE LIFE EXPERIENCES OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS

AND IF WE IGNORE THOSE EXPERIENCES, OUR DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE ON THE FALSE ASSUMPTION THAT OUR EXPERIENCES ALONE ARE SUFFICIENT BASES ON WHICH TO ADOPT THE GOVERNING POLICIES BY WHICH OUR COMMUNITY WILL INTERACT.

THE BURDEN FALLS TO ALL SIDES OF AN ISSUE – PRESENT YOUR CASE PASSIONATELY

THEN BE QUIET / LISTEN -    HEAR   -  THE PASSIONATE INPUT FROM OTHER

SIDES

THEN WORK TOGETHER TO BLEND THOSE INPUTS TOWARDS A SOLUTION

A SOLUTION THAT WITHOUT THAT PROCESS WILL FAIL TO REFLECT THE GREATER GOOD

AFTER ALL – IF OUR POLICY SOLUTIONS DO NOT REFLECT THE GREATER GOOD, THEY ARE ONLY GOOD FOR SOME

AND IF THEY ARE ONLY GOOD FOR SOME, WE WILL REMAIN DIVIDED

THIS PLEDGE IS FOR CIVILITY – IT IS TO CARRY ON A LEVEL OF DISCOURSE IN WHICH WE SHOW RESPECT FOR OUR COUNTERPARTS IN THIS VERY CHALLENGING PROCESS

 I ASK OF ALL THE VOICES WHO OFFER ME THEIR INPUT TO RESPECT AND TO UNDERSTAND THIS PROCESS

I ASK ALL OF MY FELLOW ELECTED OFFICIALS TO EXTEND THE LEVEL OF RESPECT TO YOUR COLLEAUGES THAT YOU WISH TO RECEIVE

LET US SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE UP TO GHANDI’S WORDS

TO BE THE CHANGE THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD