A riot of civility erupted in Philadelphia when an eclectic group of students switched from talking about the Super Bowl to discussing politics, writes Paula Marantz Cohen for The Wall Street Journal.

The conversation started at a monthly gathering of Drexel University students called Dean’s Teas. Seven students started discussing the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory and the ensuing celebrations. They agreed that the parade was a glorious event and that good times were had by all.

However, a latecomer turned the discussion in a different direction, saying that an alcohol-fueled crowd is a pretty scary thing no matter how happy they are. The group then started reexamining their positions, with some uneasy moments.

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The conversation then switched to politics. But instead of the usual animosity and anger, what occurred was a civil debate between students with significantly different political perspectives.

The resulting discussion ensured that everybody was free to speak their minds with openness and respect toward each other.

In the end, everybody agreed that, while they were opposed to some of the views expressed in the group, they better understood where others were coming from without getting angry.

Read more about the discussion in The Wall Street Journal here.

Editor’s Note: This post first appeared April 30, 2018.

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