Tim Shriver's challenge. How many DUers would subscribe to the pledge to keep their language at level 5 or above?

[LAS14]

Time Shriver (yes, some sort of cousin to RFK Jr.) is on a campaign to mitigate the divisions in our country. Does this ring a bell for you?

Go here for more info.

ONE
Level one escalates from violent words to violent actions. It’s a combination of feeling the other side is less than human and calling for or approving violence.
The Subtext
They're not even human. It's our moral duty to destroy them before they destroy us.

TWO
Level two accuses the other side not just of doing bad or being bad, but promoting evil.
The Subtext
Those people are evil and they're going to ruin everything if we let them. It's us or them.

THREE
Level three attacks the other side’s moral character, not just their capabilities or competence.
The Subtext
We’re the good people and they’re the bad people. It’s us vs. them.

FOUR
Level four mocks and attacks the other side’s background, their beliefs, their commitment, their competence, their performance.
The Subtext
We’re better than those people. They don’t really belong. They’re not one of us.

FIVE
Level five listens to the other side’s point of view and respectfully explains their own goals, views, and plans.
The Subtext
The other side has a right to be here and a right to be heard. They belong here too.

SIX
Level six sees it as a welcome duty to work with the other side to find common ground and act on it.
The Subtext
We always talk to the other side, searching for the values and interests we share.

SEVEN
Level seven wants to fully engage the other side - discussing the deepest disagreements they have to see what breakthroughs they can find.
The Subtext
We fully engage with the other side, discussing even values and interests we don't share, open to admitting mistakes or changing our minds.

EIGHT
I can see myself in every human being, I refuse to hate anyone, and I offer dignity to everyone.
The Subtext
Each one of us is born with inherent worth, so we treat everyone with dignity--no matter what.|here] for more info.

[Frasier Balzov]

1. What level should have been used during the rise of Nazism?

And how am I supposed to model myself on Merrick Garland under the present circumstances?

[Clouds Passing]

3. Merrick Garland set the notsee free.

[pecosbob]

2. A noble challenge...but I'm old testament, not new.

There will be recompense. Anyone that participates in denying another's rights should lose those same rights, from the goons at ICE, to all the 'lawyers' that falsely prosecute political 'enemies' and enable the Trump crime family to escape justice and to prey on the American people, to the judges who rubber-stamp clearly unconstitutional executive orders.

Repeal the Patriot Act and dissolve the Department of Homeland Security.

[GusBob]

4. Level Nine

Don’t spout off on social media

Old Grandma would say

Better to be quiet and thought a fool than open yer mouth and remove all doubt

This is a problem of this modern age

I call it knee jerking and proving yer the jerk

Example
What Don Jr said about Biden and cancer diagnosis
Back in Grandmas day no body would hear it broadcast in an instant

[CrispyQ]

5. On a day when my patience is strong, I could maybe do seven,

but never eight. Not with maga, & that now includes old time repubs.

[walkingman]

6. It's an admirable goal but it does not reflect our society anymore.

Not sure if it is social media or just the backlash of the religious/Anglo community but it seems to me the winning political recipe in America is name-calling, cruelty, and bullying.
I do agree with Tim Shriver that unless this changes in the next 25 years, our nation will not exist as it does now or has since it's founding.

[Midnight Writer]

7. Sorry, I can't go past Level 2.

They are proposing to take away healthcare, housing, food assistance, jobs, and basic dignity from millions of Americans in order to give massive tax cuts to the richest people on the planet.

Many people will die in order to give more to the already filthy rich. Many as in millions.

That is evil.

If it continues, it will be the end of the United States as we know it.

This top-heavy economy is not sustainable. They want to make it even more top-heavy. They want to remove the basic rights of regular folks so that the richest among us have more power.

It is our democracy, our rights, our future prosperity against "them", the greedy who will never be satisfied.

[stillcool]

8. I'd need alcohol and drugs

[chowder66]

9. lol

[LAS14]

10. One likes to think DU has people from the smarter end of the left...

...spectrum. I do wish more of us could get excited about ways to weaken the stark divide.

[demmiblue]

12. How many DUers would subscribe to the pledge to keep their trolling at level 0?

[LAS14]

15. What is your definition of "trolling" in this context? nt

[harumph]

13. More both siderism - more symmetric thinking - more pablum.

Actual defense of oneself or family or one's nation against truly existential threats is always and absolutely justified.
Or, are we all too stupid to know whose boot is on our necks? Up to this point, the violent acting out and gesturing has
almost been solely generated by the crazy right wingers. So, may I respectfully suggest Shriver take his advice and
shove it so far up his ass that his head explodes. What level is that?

[LAS14]

16. The thing to watch out for, I think, is treating conversation...

...with other citizens as if it were a debate on the floor of congress. Interaction with individuals might lead to less polarization of the electorate in general, and from there to more rational voting decisions.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. Remembering that Trump led the Jan 6th "Level One" event

It seems a little late to ask anyone on the side of democracy to be sticking to Level Five or more.

[LAS14]

17. See my reply #16. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. Since "the other side" re-elected Trump after Jan 6th, Level 5 for anyone who voted Trump in 2024

is inappropriate. Trump 2016 and 2020 voters were treated with Level 5 courtesy, and the idiots voted for the traitor (and, let's not forget, rapist) again. Level 4 is the most they deserve (and need, to snap them out of it), and Level 2 is justifiable. Especially with the predictable results we have seen this year.

I notice this idea was started in 2022; back then, you might justify being polite, since they hadn't voted since the outrage. But since they did vote in 2024, a different approach is needed.

[hatrack]

18. Under the current circumstances, why would I want to do that?

Why?

Maybe Tim Shriver could post a few interviews with Trump voters in diners.

Then all of us will understand that we must reach out to and soothe the anxieties of these poor, unfortunate people who just happen to hate minorities, gays, liberals and anybody who's not from their hometown.