Civility: Near Extinction or What?

The thrust of today's Roland Hansen Commentary concerns the topic of civility.

I had a subtle reminder about this topic when I came across a note I had written to myself about six weeks ago to visit the topic after I had read an interesting editorial written by Kathleen Parker in The Washington Post that relates to civility in politics. May I suggest you take a bit of your time to read it? If you are interested, click on over to read "Politics with a little politesse" and see what you think.

Quite frankly, I think Kathleen Parker is right on target.

Along that same vein, I am reminded of a few entries here on Roland Hansen Commentary that relate to civility in the present age of electronic communications, especially so in the blogosphere such as Glass City Jungle and on internet social networks such as Facebook. Take a look at a few of my previous entries:
Glass City Jungle and the Trolling Flamer Cyberbully Factor
Not Again
Social Network Services Diminish Family Life And Friendships

Okay, what do you think? Is civility lost to humanity?

Peace on Earth. Goodwill towards Men.

The message "Peace on Earth. Goodwill towards Men." is often said. I wonder how many people truly believe in that message that they so easily say this time of the year.

I wonder if that message applies to:
Afghanistan
China
Gaza
Iran
Iraq
Israel
North Korea
Pakistan

and everywhere on this Earth.

Or in making that statement, are folks just demonstrating more hypocrisy?

I wonder if bible thumping conservatives believe this message applies to those who do not share the same religion or same perspective or same political beliefs.

I wonder. I wonder. I wonder.

"... the world is a little brighter ..."

These are not my words here "... the world is a little brighter..." but some one else's. The some one else is Rabbi Jason Miller; and, I got that phrase from an entry on his blog.

Read his entire blog entry over here.

Help Wanted: Governing Board Member, Lucas County Educational Service Center

Read about the opening on the Lucas County Educational Service Center Governing Board over at Lucas County Educational Services Center Updates by Angela Zimmann OPEN SEAT ON THE BOARD; Fond Farewell to Judy Hansen.

To those people who live in the electing jurisdiction of the Lucas County Educational Services Center, I say:
Here is your chance people to step up to the plate and be a doer not just a talker. It really does not take up that much of your time and you will be providing a valuable service to the community and our children.

I had previously written about the opening in this Roland Hansen Commentary.

Pro Union = Good. Anti Union = Bad.

I am fed up with anti-union people bashing unions, blaming unions for the ills of our economy and our government, and using unions as a scapegoat to excuse the failure of private businesses and greedy corporations; and, I am fed up with the anti-union people's down-right ignorance of the facts concerning unions in the United States.

How in the hell do these people come up with their crap? All they do is point fingers, assign blame, castigate, malign, and provide negative commentary without providing raw, unadulterated facts to support their contentions.

The following short paragraph is only a starting point for some facts on union membership in the United States of America.

Only a small minority of the American workforce is unionized.
"In 2008, union members accounted for 12.4 percent of employed wage
and salary workers ... "
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Labor Force Statistics, Economic News Release, Union Members Summary. Read the full Union Members Summary over here.
And then, read the entire report: Union Members (Annual).

In my biased opinion, people should really bone up about unions before they spout off. A very basic primer to start the learning process on the overall subject may be read at Wikipedia. Go there to read Labor unions in the United States.

It has been claimed that Joe Friday said "Just the facts, ma'am." While that urban legend is untrue, I have to say I would like the anti-union 'dip squats' to back up their postulations with facts rather than unfounded conjecture.

And another thing to my anti-union friends (and I really do have friends who espouse anti-union sentiments) who may disagree with me or wish to debate me, anecdotal evidence just doesn't cut it with me on this one.

Incidentally, Roland Hansen Commentary has had two previous entries along the vein of union bashings. They are:
Teachers on Strike
Consumer Beware: Are cars overpriced?

Toledo Public Schools: Is TPS Administration A Breeding Ground For Criminal Activity?

I'm wondering if Toledo Public Schools is administered properly. I'm wondering if former Toledo Public Schools superintendent Eugene Sanders, now the superintendent for Cleveland Public Schools is so squeaky clean. How much responsibility and accountability should be assigned to Gene Sanders in what may be far reaching alleged criminal activity by Dan Burns, former Toledo Public Schools Business Manager under Sanders and whom Sanders took with him to Cleveland to serve as the Chief Operating Officer for Cleveland Public Schools? Has the Administration of Toledo Public Schools served as a training ground for criminal activity, such as theft in office, tampering with records, and racketeering?

I wonder. I wonder.

Read the article by Thomas Ott of The Plain Dealer "Daniel Burns, former Cleveland schools administrator, indicted" that is the underlying source for my wonderment.

Ben Konop, Lucas County Commissioner, Defendent in Court Law Suit

Continuing in my personal quest to bring about the downfall of the poor excuse of an elected official, I bring your attention to The Blade article Suit filed against Konop claims injuries in crash.

Hey, at least I am open and honest about my intent.