Business professionals and students attended Grace College’s sixth annual executive forum Monday morning.

WINONA LAKE — Grace hosted its sixth annual Executive Forum Monday morning, Nov. 20, at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center where guests heard from local business professionals as well as United States Congressman Jim Banks.

Banks wrapped up the event by speaking on social media and the negative effects it has had on American politics. He spent time quoting several of the first pioneers in social media, explaining how they “have seen problems with how their platforms have turned out.” Banks recounted a story from Sean Parker, the first president of Facebook, and how he would tell people who didn’t join the initial wave of social media, “We’ll get you eventually.” Banks continued to explain how Parker continued by stating, “I don’t know if I really understood the consequences of what I was saying. Because of the unintended consequences of a network…of a billion or two people, it literally changes your relationship with society and with each other.”

Banks further explained how social media has destabilized the foundation for civil discourse amongst people. Rather than using different opinions to open the door to dialogue, people “resort instead to angry monologues even when it doesn’t go along with politics.” Banks used examples from tweets he’s received in a mock session of Jimmy Kimmel’s “mean tweets” and tweets posted by President Trump.

Banks noted the need for civil discourse in the politics of America as they challenge and build the framework of the country. He went back and counted the discourse among American leaders since the beginning of the nation’s history. “Civil discourse is critical to a free government. Engaging in a debate on every issue is essential to a free and functioning republic,” explained Banks.

However, social media continues to make the concept of civil discourse harder to execute due to the “anonymity and distance.” Banks summarized the topic by saying, “Free speech is fundamental and can’t go away, but how we talk to each other is important on a non lethal as a culture.”

Along with Banks, guests heard from Executive Director of Kosciusko County Community Foundation Suzanne Light, President and CEO of Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership John R. Sampson and Director of Leadership Development and Personal Growth at Sweetwater Sound Kelly Byrd. Light, Sampson and Byrd spent one session speaking on the importance of a business becoming active in community and serving the area with its resources as well as answering questions in session two.