In our era of polarized and polarizing politics, public speech has seemingly become more corrosive and dehumanizing, and we're living in an anger-cycle of insult and reaction. Next Sunday we envision what civil discourse sounds like, and explore what powers we need to cultivate to keep a lid on the gas can.  

Joseph Bednarik is a frequent speaker at KUUF and retired co-publisher of Copper Canyon Press. He lives in Port Townsend.