Memorializing Senator McCain’s “Uncivil Tongue”: Invitational Rhetoric and the Problem of Confrontation and Violence

ABSTRACT

The idealistic principles of civility undergirding the theory of invitation generally condemn the use of confrontational or violent rhetorical strategies. Such condemnation risks preventing marginalized communities from properly responding to injustice lest they face criticism for uncivil and immoral behavior and provides cover for elites, whose hegemonic power is already secure, to violate civility norms. In response, I argue that a rhetorical theory of civility should not generally invalidate violations of civility norms and should instead justify the occasional use of the uncivil tongue.

KEYWORDS:

• Uncivil tongue
• civility
• materiality
• political dialogue
• national eulogy

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).