Choosing Civility, one more time

I've been itching to post some more thoughts and feelings on "Choose Civility", but then I think of all the linking and leg work that I'll have to do for the post.  After this I just get lazy and don't post anything, as obvious as my lack of posting for days.  Anyway, with no links and no real substance I just have to post what I've seen lately about "Choose Civility".

Apparently the "Choose Civility" initiative is moving into Phase 2 operations.  I'm not sure what Phase 2 means, but hopefully they figure out that associating civility with driving is just not going to cut it.  Ken Ulman (I think I have the spelling right, hell I don't even know who he is, other than some HoCo exec.), recently commented on the fact that the "Choose Civility" campaign has cause some to created the spin-offs "Choose Senility" and "Choose Hostility" and he proclaimed that these spin-offs should be viewed as compliments to the campaign.

Wow, I beg to differ, especially the "Choose Hostility" spin-off.  These spin-offs are in no way a form of flattery.  In fact, I would view them as a means of highlighting how much of a mockery the "Choose Civility" campaign really is.  I mean come on, everyone and I mean everyone sees the "Choose Civility" bumper magnets and immediately associates it with the act of driving.  Then they view the individual with the bumper magnet driving like a jackass and proclaim that this person in no way is civil.  The campaign, as far as I can tell, in no way is meant to be associated with civil driving.  It would be a great by-product, but "we got a long way to go, baby" when it comes to being a more civil HoCo.

Civility conjures up a sense of being responsible for ones actions.  This is America, are you kidding me, we gave up responsibility a long time ago.  I applaud the individuals that do take the campaign seriously and I applaud the individuals that are responsible for their own actions, but a more civil, a more responsible America isn't going to happen overnight or by me placing a bumper magnet on my car proclaiming my Civility.

Choose Responsibility

I'm all for President Obama's initiative for a more responsible America, but like Choose Civility I feel that the message may become mixed.  I also feel that it is going to be quite difficult to instill this goal into the American people.

When I first heard President Obama speaking about a more responsible America, my first thought was responsibility on a grandiose scale, as I'm sure many other Americans had this same thought.  I'm also sure that many Americans were thinking that this concept does not apply to them and that being more responsible will have no affect on President Obama's call to action. This feeling really has me thinking that a call for a more responsible America will fall on deaf ears or that the desired affect will miss the mark.

Responsibility however, does not have to be grand.  It can be a simple act or a simple gesture. Paying attention to your child at the playground instead of paying more attention to your cell phone is a simple way to responsible.  Stopping at a red light instead of racing to get through the yellow light at the last second is a simple act of responsibility.  Now I don't have to lecture you about ways to be more responsible, but how then does one suggest responsibility to someone they don't even know.  Can you imagine approaching a complete stranger to inform them that they need to be more responsible?  I guess it's worth a shot to try it if you think the situation calls for it.

A more responsible America is going to be a tough nut to crack, but maybe it has a chance.  After 9/11 I felt that we were heading down this path.  We were more vigilant, more neighborly, and we were watching out for one another.  These were the seeds of a more responsible America, but then the message was lost, the initiative stalled.  Many Americans went back to doing the things that they were used to doing, back to their normal defined lifestyles and forgot that we had a common enemy to face.  To show this enemy that they can't divide us, but instead unite us and make us stronger.  Sure we did this for a while, but we quickly realized it was easier to go back to our old irresponsible ways.

Will President Obama's message hit the mark, will the everyday American understand that they have a responsibility to their freedom?  I don't know the answers to these questions, but I'm hoping that we see the light and start acting in a more responsible way.

Choose Civility, but can you drive

Yesterday, Ryan Ballengee, over at EHHC commented on a opinion by Heather Vaughn in the Columbia Flier on her take on the Choose Civility bumper magnets.

I agree with both Ryan and Heather that the magnets don't give drivers any special pass when it comes to poor driving.  Ryan then questions the point of purpose for the Choose Civility magnets.

People in the county are associating Choose Civility with driving smarter.

I must admit that I'm in the majority that thinks this way.  Maybe HoCo Public Library's intent was to not connect the two or maybe it was.  Unfortunately, by having a car magnet associated with the Choose Civility initiative, it is only a natural step to connect the two for many people. 

I've always thought that the magnets should be changed to "Choose Civility, but continue driving like an asshole".  Too bad this slogan is too long winded or my car would have one.

It's also unfortunate that many make the above association because civility shouldn't start on the roadways, civility should start with your neighbors.  How many of you socialize with your neighbors or even know your neighbors?  I know that my family doesn't talk to many of our neighbors and that many of our neighbors go out of their way to avoid socializing.  It's too bad that our society is this way, but in the end, if you can't be civil with your neighbors, then you definitely won't be civil on the roadways.

Bring out your dead!

Well, not really, but at least consider bringing back a dead blog.

When I started this blog, I didn't really think that others were blogging about Columbia or suburban life for that matter.  Boy was I wrong, within a couple of days I found a treasure trove of useful Columbia blogs.  I even stumbled upon the Embrace Hostility In Howard County blog.  I was excited and dejected when I found this blog, only because I was planning on blogging about the silly Choose Civility bumper magnets found in Howard County.  Then I found that the blog was closing shop and changing to Columbia Now.

I would like to plead and beg for the writer of the Embrace Hostility In Howard County blog to start it back up again.  We need some power, some force to fight all the "Choose Civility" individuals out there.  Bringing back this blog would really be the Civil thing to do.

If you choose not to bring it back, that's fine too.  I plan on incorporating some means to fight the power of Civility in future blog post.

Peace out Civility!!!