MCC Presents Civil Discourse Event Featuring Senator George Mitchell
From Mudslinging to Mutual Respect: How to Make Politics More Civil
Featuring Senator George Mitchell
On Thursday, October 20, we were thrilled to host a statewide event, “From Mudslinging to Mutual Respect: How To Make Politics More Civil,” featuring Senator George Mitchell. We welcomed nearly 200 people from every corner of Maine, who were inspired and moved by Senator Mitchell’s reflections on the importance of civility in politics, the reasons it has gone by the wayside in recent years, and what citizens and faith communities can do to ensure that civility flourishes in our public life.
The event focused on what grassroots constituents and voters can do to support those candidates and elected officials who abide by the principles of civil discourse, and to hold accountable and change the behavior of those who do not. Senator Mitchell reflected on these questions in light of his own experiences building bipartisan coalitions in the Senate from 1980 to 1994, and working for peace as U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland (1995-2001) and to the Middle East (2009-2011).
