Decency Showcase
Decency takes many forms: treating others with respect, telling the truth, playing fair, keeping your word, listening to people with whom you disagree, showing restraint, and standing up for what is right even when it is difficult.
Decency is especially important in a democracy. In a diverse society, disagreement is inevitable—and essential. Democracy asks us to debate, persuade, compromise, win and lose while respecting the rules and recognizing that those on the other side remain fellow citizens.
The Decency Showcase will highlight what that looks like in practice. We’ll feature words, actions, and moments that demonstrate civility, honesty, fairness, respect for democratic institutions, cooperation across differences, courage, restraint, and grace in victory and defeat. Some will come from national leaders; others from citizens and communities. Together, they show that decency is not an abstract ideal, but something people choose to practice. The examples will be spotlighted, then added to a cumulative “Decency Honor Roll.”
We invite nominations that identify the speaker, details of the action, date and circumstances, and a reliable, traceable source. Send them to grandparents@grandparents.cloud.
Civility Spotlight
Political campaigns are built around disagreement. Candidates should argue vigorously for their ideas and challenge their opponents’ records and policies. Civility does not ask anyone to be less passionate or forceful. It asks that we distinguish between challenging an opponent’s ideas and attacking the opponent as a person.
For the next six months, our Civility Spotlight will offer a weekly reminder that strong political disagreement does not require personal attacks, ridicule, or contempt. As midterm campaigns intensify, voters go to the polls, and a new Congress takes office, we’ll share examples from American political life of people who disagreed—sometimes fiercely—while still treating opponents with civility.