Based on Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior
by George Washington
Have you no sense of decency?
Rule 49. Use no reproachful language
against anyone, neither curse nor revile.
Person A. “If you don’t want to be called Nazis, stop…”
Person B. “I hope your beeper doesn’t go off”
Person A. “Did you just say I should die?
Did you just say I should be killed
live on CNN?”
Rule 45. Being to advise or reprehend anyone,
consider whether it ought to be in public
or in private, presently or at some other time,
in what terms to do it; and in reproving show
no sign of choler; but do it with all sweetness
and mildness.
Person A. “Are you a racist, violent person
inciting violence against me?”
Person C. “…that is completely out of pocket”
Person B. “Then I apologize”
Person C. “Don’t say, ‘Then I apologize.’ You
literally accused him —”
Rule 110. Labor to keep alive in your breast that
little spark of celestial fire called conscience.
Author note: To paraphrase an apocryphal quotation attributed to a patriot other than Washington, now is the time for all to come to the aid of their country.
Sources: CNN host kicks panelist off show after ‘lowest of the lowest’ exchange with Mehdi Hasan and George Washington’s Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior, MJF Books, 2007.