Discourse

Bonnie S. Copeland, chief executive officer of the Baltimore schools, joined John Sexton, president of New York University, at an event in Washington yesterday to announce the formation of a national campaign for civic discourse. The campaign will be led by the Associated Leaders of Debate, a new national nonprofit dedicated to increasing urban students' involvement in and access to debate leagues. Copeland will sit on the association's board. Copeland said the group will solicit contributions so that it can provide financial support to organizations such as the Baltimore Urban Debate League.

On October 8, 2005 GEROME JONES of Comet St. On Thursday, friends may call at Locks Funeral Home, 1304 N. Central Ave. from 5 to 8 p.m. On Friday, family will receive friends at 10 a.m. discourse 10:30. Services entrusted to HARI P. CLOSE FUNERAL SERVICE, P.A. 410-327-3100.

WASHINGTON - Are you tired of "info-tainers" totally blurring the line between news and entertainment? Fed up with feuding TV spin doctors passing as reasoned debaters? Is that your problem, Bunky? Well, take heart, dear friend. You're not alone. Jon Stewart, host of The Daily Show on cable's Comedy Central, feels your pain. And when he recently had a rare opportunity to say so, right in the face of CNN's Crossfire hosts, Tucker ("From the right!") Carlson and Paul ("From the left!") Begala, he let 'em have it. Conservative commentator Carlson and Democratic campaign consultant Begala invited Mr. Stewart to their show to talk about Mr. Stewart's new book, America.

Annapolis, a city where state political leaders sometimes struggle to remain polite to one another, will try something new this weekend: a conference on civility. Organizers of the city's first conference on civility Sunday at St. John's College invited academics, city officials, media representatives and Annapolis residents to share their ideas on civil discourse in a free and open forum. Connie Harold, a local writer, organized the event at Mayor Ellen O. Moyer's request because of a shared sense that dialogue among various city factions was becoming more strained and divided.

WASHINGTON - Members of the independent Sept. 11 commission have received pledges of nearly $1 million for a private educational group they have created to push for the enactment of the panel's recommendations, commission officials said Friday. The educational group, the 9/11 Public Discourse Project, opened an office here last week. It also has a Web site, www.9-11 pdp.org, on which the 10 former commissioners say that the "perils of inaction are far too high - and the strategic value of the commission's findings too important - for the work of the 9/11 commission not to continue."

HEARD FROM a distance, where Arnold Schwarzenegger hasn't yet completely morphed from action hero to political hack, his "girlie men" jibe at California state lawmakers sounded like late-night comedy shtick. Because that's where it came from. He was parodying a parody of himself from an old Saturday Night Live skit. It didn't sound so funny, though, to the targets of the governor's ridicule - girls, men and gays all took offense - and was likely a preview of coming attractions during the political season that begins with the Democratic National Convention next week.

Spit like a curse. Hurled like a stone. Un-American is a label usually reserved for a blasphemer, traitor or mutineer, intended not only to sting but to scar, to sequester and to muzzle. But what - and who - exactly does it mean? These days, the label affixes as easily to the right wing as to the left; to peaceniks as well as hawks; environmentalists and developers; the anti-abortion crowd and pro-choice advocates. Anyone, it seems, in the post-9/11 United States can be called un-American.

I disagree. Whether by personality or profession, I am compelled to take exception. Growing up, I liked adults much better than I did other children, thanks to their superior arguments. Now, as a law professor, I teach people how to sue. I disagree with myself, too. I am not so sure I should be so contrary. Yet our diverse democracy works at its best -- indeed, works at all -- only through robust discussion. In discussion, the most important question, to which of course there can be no right answer, is "Why?"

On December 12, 2003, ROSIE also know as Lucille; beloved daughter of Charles Hodge and Mary Nelson. Also survived by nieces, nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Friends may call at Wylie Funeral Home, P.A., 638 N. Gilmor St., on Monday 4 to 8 PM. Family will receive friends on Tuesday 11 AM. Discourse 11:30 AM at Kingdom Hall, 5524 Liberty Heights Ave. Interment following. Inquiries at www.wyliefuneralhome.com.

YOU'RE SITTING down to watch TV. One channel's showing a presidential debate, another a cartoon. Which do you watch? If you want entertainment, you'll pick the cartoon. But if you want a smart take on current events - well, you still might want to pick the cartoon. Ever since The Simpsons launched the current boom in adult animation, we've been more likely to hear pointed social commentary from animated cells than from anyone running for office. Start with the most recent City Journal magazine, where conservative writer Brian C. Anderson argued that his side is no longer losing the culture wars.