Our college years are meant for growing and learning. Spirited debates are inevitable. Political etiquette is essentialCollege students learn to debate vigorously, engage fully and then go have a friendly cup of coffee with classmates later in the day. Learning is never mean spirited.

Too bad our nation’s political parties are not as Zen. Disagreements turn into blood sport that divide and polarize.

Washington D.C. is a gridlocked disaster area where partisanship has run amok. If President Obama says white, Republicans immediately—and fiercely—say black. If Obama served Mexican food at lunch, the GOP would complain and demand Italian.

Politics has become rabid and nasty. Every debate seems to transform into a fierce battle where the goal is to demonize a rival. Ann Coulter is the poster child of hateful discourse. Her series of liberal-bashing books are increasingly angry, puerile and disturbing. Her book titled “How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)” instructs conservative readers on how to “handle” and debase liberal opponents. With books like “Guilty: Liberal Victims and Their Assault on America” and “If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d be Republican,” Coulter is not qualified to speak about respect. Rather than engage in a meaningful discussion of issues, she has used her talent for blood money.

Civilized discussions refrain from making generalizations about people with whom they may disagree. Stereotyping Democrats and Republicans is disrespectful and intellectually lazy. No two members of a party think alike, so claiming that all conservatives are racists or that all liberals are tree-hugging hippies is unprofessional and wrong. Generalities are shortcuts to actual thinking.

On the other hand, we have our right to speak our minds about the other party. Along with that freedom comes the responsibility to back arguments and rebuttals with solid evidence instead of speculation and emotionalism. Etiquette need not limit the extent of our freedom of speech, but to ensure that a meaningful exchange of ideas. Unfortunately, AM radio and right-wing television outlets are saturated with programs that place shock value before facts and acrimony over thoughtful discussion.

Political discussions should promote discovery not destruction. Passion is a plus, but mania is worthless. College prepares students for the real world and learning political etiquette is essential. Maybe someday we can teach the “grownups” how it should be done.