National Conference of State Legislators Accord 2011

• Respect the right of all Americans to hold different opinions
  
  
• Avoid rhetoric intended to humiliate, de-legitimatize or question the patriotism of those whose opinions are different from ours
  
  
• Strive to understand differing perspective
  
  
• Choose words carefully
  
  
• Speak truthfully without accusation and avoid distortion
  
  
• Speak out against violence, prejudice, and incivility in all their forms, whenever and wherever they occur
  
  
• We further pledge to exhibit and encourage the kind of personal qualities that are emblematic of civil society: gratitude, humility, openness, passion for service to others, propriety, kindness, caring, faith, a sense of duty, and a commitment to doing what is right