Where Civil Discourse and Controversy Meet

Thank you, Richmond, for allowing us to conduct the Public Square.

In nearly four years, the

Richmond Times-Dispatch has organized two dozen civil, community conversations about issues of importance to our region. Tuesday night, we celebrate the 25th Public Square.

When the Public Square launched on a September night in 2005 to a packed house, we thought we had an initiative that would foster a safe place for Richmonders to share observations, opinions, and recommendations on vibrant topics in the news. We were weary from the rude shouting matches that passed for debates on cable TV programs, the limited us-against-them nature of many public hearings, as well as the anonymous verbal grenades lobbed liberally in Internet chat areas. We also knew our organization needed to do more to open doors to readers who wanted to smartly engage us in making our community a better place to live.

Have we succeeded?

Yes, and that we means all of us.

Simply put, the Public Square is for everyone. You've told us it's your place to have frank conversations and discussions. You can speak to the issue. Or you can just listen. Both are action verbs.

We've added interactive panel discussions and debates, but you've cautioned us about eating into your time to comment. The Square is most effective when each speaker is focused on one big point or can quickly tick off related points that add up to a clear conclusion that moves the overall conversation into new, interesting directions. But the Square isn't about one person making the best point. Rather, it's how the cogent comments weave themselves into a blanket of viewpoints that cover as many aspects of an issue as 90 minutes allow. The culminating victory is the record of informed thought, captured in the Sunday Commentary section and archived on TimesDispatch.com.

The Public Square proved Richmond can have civil discourse on controversial topics. That may be what I'm most proud of in this experiment of civic engagement. Rarely have you drifted from that requirement. Sure, some of you were prepared to read 10 pages of comments and we've had bouts of hooting, hissing, and clapping, but for the most part the room has been respectful and open to hearing what the next speaker at the microphone has to say.

We've learned from each other. Met new people. And come together. I'm happy to report that neither a boxing match nor hockey game has broken out at any of our Public Squares.

Sure, we've had several interesting episodes. Such as the night our microphones kept cutting out, frustrating our technical crew until we spotted a woman whose foot kept pounding a connection box under her chair every time she heard a comment she didn't like. Or the speaker who went to great lengths to connect Richmond's crime rates to lunar movements. Or the two very noticeable pistol-packing attendees who arrived together but sat on different sides of the room ready to defend the Second Amendment.

And the radio-show host who disrupted the Square to protest the newspaper not freeing up our reporters to advance his show. Or the two times the city fire marshal showed up to monitor "crowd control" on contro versies where our former mayor was in the middle. (A photo from the April 2006 Square later showed the marshal raising his hand when I asked how many people thought The Diamond was the best place for baseball.)

And there have been plenty of Kodak moments as well:

The eloquent comments by the late Dr. Francis M. Foster Sr. on why he would miss getting a Christmas card from the legendary philanthropist Thomas Cannon, who had just passed away. (Note to Richmond: Where is his monument?) The self-described candidate for vice president of the United States who had a name badge that covered most of his chest.

The full diversity of our crowd the night we confronted affordable housing. The youngster whose dad made him go to the microphone, only to steal the show with a pledge to do more to help his family during the tough economic times. The blind military veteran who belted out an emotional salute to a teen-age Marine who recently returned from fighting in Iraq. Our two debaters who favored offshore drilling staying in the room for more than an hour after the Square ended to continue the discussion with opponents they had never met.

And anytime our No. 1 fan Ruby Turner, the safe-streets activist who is a confirmed darling among the region's law enforcement teams, offered her mix of Biblical and life-experience insight.

The idea for the Public Square originated in my participation in the 1997 class of Leadership Metro Richmond, which teaches the ingredients of servant leadership and the lessons of courageous conversations that build community trust. (Disclosure: I am finishing my year as LMR chair this month.)

The Square has been guided by a devoted planning group from our News, Editorial, Strategic Marketing, and Facilities departments. We've also benefited from timely news coverage and commentary and the dedication of our technical crews who work hard to position the heavy equipment to capture the discussions on a live Webcast.

Last year, Editor & Publisher magazine recognized the Public Square in its annual list of newspapers doing things right. Industry honors don't replace the significance of being relevant and engaging, however. That's the real reason for the Public Square: to serve the community, to be relevant in the conversations that need to occur to deepen understanding and knowledge, and to allow civic engagement to flourish with fairness, dignity, and respect.

So at No. 25, we celebrate the civil conversation by the people, for the people, and of the people. Long live the Public Square.

Tom Silvestri is president and publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch and moderator of the Public Square. Contact him at (804) 649-6121.