For many, it does not sustain the conviviality for such joyous social occasions. Expressions of humor, sarcasm, and ridicule in toasting the president have been recently expressed by several of our admired colleagues, even a Nobel laureate. It would be difficult to assure a banquet quorum if a political consensus on the president were required. Many members of our surgical societies have raised their glass enthusiastically in a dignified manner for years, toasting presidents who do not meet their political approval. These demeaning toasting utterances designed to be humorous have left a poor impression with our colleagues, both international and domestic.
Civility is synonymous with courtesy, politeness, and relates to custom and civil law.
It implies a more considerate or dignified politeness with the attached training in humanities. It is the avoidance of rudeness. A toast is all at once a poem, a public prayer, a proverb, a secret sentiment, a roast, a bit of wit, and a veritable verbal badge of social facility. The civilized and genteel art of toast giving is as old as civilization itself. Like most symbols of civilization, it dates back to the ancient Greeks, who began the practice of drinking to each other's health and welfare.