We are losing sight of civility in government and politics.

The city streets were bathed in the soft light of the evening streetlamps, the hum of traffic in the distance mingling with the low murmur of conversations. The air had a slight chill to it, but the evening was still alive with the energy of the people moving about. Jack and Jeeny sat on a bench in a quiet park, the sounds of the city muted by the rustling of the nearby trees, the only light coming from a flickering streetlamp near them. Their conversation had reached a point where the weight of the world seemed to press down on them both.

Host: The soft breeze shifted the fallen leaves at their feet, and the world around them felt heavy with concern. The evening had settled in, but the question of their conversation was one that lingered — one that couldn’t easily be dismissed. Jack sat with his elbows on his knees, his face tense, his thoughts swirling. Jeeny leaned against the bench, her hands folded in her lap, quietly waiting for him to speak.

Jeeny: “I’ve been thinking about what James McGreevey said: ‘We are losing sight of civility in government and politics. Debate and dialogue is taking a back seat to the politics of destruction and anger and control. Dogma has replaced thoughtful discussion between people of differing views.’ Do you think that’s true, Jack? Do you think we’ve lost the ability to talk to each other?”

Jack: He stared at the pavement, his face tight with a mixture of frustration and disbelief. “Of course it’s true. Look at the way people are treating each other these days. It’s all about winning. The debate doesn’t matter anymore — it’s just about who has the loudest voice, the harshest words, the most anger to throw around. Civility? It’s a joke. It’s about control and getting people to listen to your side, no matter what.”

Jeeny: She shifted her position slightly, her voice steady but laced with sadness. “But don’t you think that’s the problem? We’ve replaced conversation with confrontation. Instead of trying to understand each other, we’re just yelling across the divide. Civility isn’t just about being polite; it’s about creating space for dialogue, for respect, for seeing that people can disagree without it leading to destruction.”

Jack: He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “That’s the problem, though. No one’s listening anymore. People don’t care about dialogue, Jeeny. It’s all about what benefits them, their ideology, their side. It’s become a fight for control, and the only way to win is to crush the other side. No one’s interested in understanding anymore.”

Jeeny: Her eyes softened, but there was a firm determination in her voice. “I think that’s exactly why we need to fight for civility. Without it, we’re just feeding the cycle of anger and division. But if we can come together and actually listen to each other, even when we don’t agree, maybe we can start to break down the walls that have been built between us.”

Jack: He leaned back, his hands resting on the back of the bench, looking up at the sky. “You really think that’s possible? You think people are going to stop with the destruction, the anger? I don’t see it, Jeeny. I don’t see anyone on either side willing to actually listen to the other. It’s all about tearing each other down.”

Jeeny: “But that’s exactly why it’s so important, Jack. Change doesn’t come from hate or control. It comes from real conversation, from people being willing to engage with each other, even when it’s difficult. We can’t keep letting dogma define us. If we’re going to get anywhere, we need to start listening.”

Host: The night had fully settled, the park around them quieting as more people moved indoors. Yet the conversation between Jack and Jeeny still felt charged, the weight of it heavy in the air between them. Jack’s frustration with the world was palpable, but Jeeny’s belief in the possibility of change — in the possibility of real dialogue — stood like a quiet beacon in the midst of it all.

Jack: He turned to face her, the hard edge of his anger softening just slightly. “You’re right about one thing — if we keep going the way we’re going, there’s no way forward. But how do we fix something that’s this broken? How do we get people to even care about having a real conversation?”

Jeeny: She leaned in slightly, her eyes locking with his, a quiet conviction in her gaze. “We start with ourselves, Jack. It’s not about changing everyone, it’s about being willing to change how we engage with the world. We can’t let the anger define us. We have to start by being willing to listen, to respect the voices of others, even if they don’t align with our own. The change has to start somewhere, and maybe it starts with us.”

Jack: He didn’t speak for a long moment, the quiet of the night stretching between them. He didn’t have an answer, but something had shifted in him — a small realization that maybe, just maybe, the civility they were talking about wasn’t so far out of reach. Maybe it was something worth fighting for, even if the road was long and difficult.

Jack: “Maybe... maybe it does start with us. Maybe we can’t change the whole world, but we can change how we engage with it. Maybe dialogue really is the answer.”

Jeeny: Her smile was soft, but it carried a quiet sense of hope. “It’s a start, Jack. And that’s all we need.”

Host: The silence between them wasn’t heavy anymore. There was something lighter in the air, the weight of the conversation shifting into something more hopeful. As the world continued on around them, their small corner of it seemed a little quieter, a little less charged with the anger and division that had defined so much of the day.

The night was fully here, but the conversation, and the small spark of change it had ignited, was just beginning.