Civil Discourse

If one chooses to be civilized
my parents always said
the challenge is to keep
a civil tongue in one's head

Since the universe we share
is ruled by cause and effect
it must behoove us all
to treat each other with respect

If you should not agree with me
or share my point of view
yet let me speak my mind in peace
I'll do the same for you

Let us strive for civil discourse
I would earnestly implore
lest we risk reducing 'civil'
to an adjective for 'war'