The Danger of an Eroded Civil Landscape.

A central problem society now has is that we have little or no interest or commitment to, and often a tacit opposition to, preparing and equipping people with the knowledge and skills required to deal with the realities of the world. Consequently, we turn to eliminating and denigrating anything which may, in any way at all, be perceived or even potentially perceived, to be of any level of offence or difficulty to any person.

Thus, we turn to revisionism, reductionism and calls to eliminate institutions and systems anytime we feel uncomfortable, are challenged or face hardship. We have lost the ability and/or will to meaningfully and critically engage on a majority of topics, let alone any sensitive ones. We have created an unfavourable environment which is inauthentic, toxic and adversarial to any meaningful engagement.

A society composed of people who are unable to appropriately address and evaluate often complicated or complex issues, but instead rely upon catchy slogans and tribalism, is doomed to see continued erosion in societal and cultural bonds, and in faith in democracy and trust in individuals, organisations and governments.

Rather than engage on an issue or opinion, whether it is right or wrong, with the aim of better grasping the topic or view, and to instead to turn to mob vengeance, cancel culture and shaming as a strategy, does no favours to anyone or society as a whole. When a verifiable fact made by one party in an argument becomes not a counterpoint to the alternative view, but rather becomes prima facie evidence the party making such statement is a certain enemy or villain with the worst of intent as perceived by the other party, we have lost the ability to find common ground, to seek the truth and to meaningfully engage on important topics.

This approach and environment rarely deliver meaningful lasting change and improvement which is often sorely needed, and instead binds us to the theatrics of tribalism, the status quo and in seeking perceived victory over truth and progress.

The continued erosion in the civil environment and ability to have open and critical debates on both sensitive and non-sensitive issues, only weakens us as a society and as a democracy. Such environments have the opposite effect of perhaps their intent, and do not safeguard society from authoritarianism or populism, but rather create the environment in which they can take hold and thrive. The reduction of civil discourse and politics more generally to a simple win or lose dynamic is not only useless, but dangerous.

If we really want to engage in meaningful discussion, achieve transformational change, and create a better engaged, educated and civil citizenry, we need to change the way in which we approach such issues. The solution to a horrendous idea or view is not to shun those who hold it into the dark, but to bring it into the light to be openly debated, confronted and changed.