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Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
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March 14, 2019     Shelton Mason County Journal
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March 14, 2019
 
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Page A-2 - She~ton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, March 14, 2019 r~ By Gordon Weeks gordon@masoncoun com The Thanksgiving gathering heats up when you accuse your cousin of being a "left-wing so- cialist"; she angrily calls you a "fascist." You "unfriend" your former high school classmate on Face- book because he denies global warming exists, but you call him a '%onehead" first before cutting off communication. Is civility breaking down when it comes to differences over religion, ethics and poli- -- tics? "I don't think there's any doubt," philosopher/professor Dave Smith said in a telephone interview with the Shelton- Mason County Journal. "It seems like it's been building for 15 years. Donald Trump has kicked it up a notch." Smith will talk about "Civil Conversation in an Angry Age" from 1:30 to 3 p.m. March 31 at the Harstine Island Commu- nity Hall, 3371 E. Harstine Is- land Road N. The lecture is part of the Humanities Washington series. Admission is free, and i donations are accepted. Smith, a Tacoma resident, earned a doctorate degree in ~ religious studies from Temple University. For the past de- cade, he has been a lecturer, WHO. Philosopher/professor Dawd Sm,th le r ctue Ovll Conversat=onm an AnqryAge Hall, 3373 E. HarstinektandRoadNi " assistant professor and an as- sociate professor of philosophy and religious studies. He teach- es at the Osher Lifelong Learn- ing Institute at the University of Washington. Smith will explore why some opinions inflame our emotions, leading to anger, fights and even the ends of relationships with relatives and friends. He said he'll talk about "why it's hard to maintain composure and respect." People come by their beliefs "naturally," and will stick by those even when shown facts that counter those beliefs, Smith said. Social media has allowed coarser exchanges, Smith said. With Facebook, "I think it's easy to be uncivil because that person is not in front of you," he said. At the lecture, Smith said he will talk about our common humanity, that we have the "same fundamental needs." Smith said he had to adjust to his own new opinions as he changed from a "fundamental- ist Christian to a progressive thinker." "I had to decide, which peo- ple i could share my new be- liefs with,", he said. Smith has been teaching philosophy and religion for 25 years. "Almost every lecture is controversial," he said. Smith said he tried to repre- sent all perspectives. "I've tried to instill civility in teaching from the beginning," he said. Smith said people are pes- simistic about so much, espe- cially about politics, but he's "hopeful in the long run." "There are people who will not allow incivility to become the norm," he said. College professor/philosopher Davis Smith will talk about "Civil Conversation in an Angry Age" from 1:30-3 p.m. March 31 at the Harstine Island Community Club. Courtesy photo Land Construction Conventional .USDA FHA VA EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY r -F