Debating

My hope is that our schools help teach the art of debating.

We are losing our ability or even knowing how to hold a discussion.

Watching this “ new world order” or more important the “ new America “ unfold before our eyes it is alarming. We are becoming more divided and in doing so we have chosen our teams and you are either with us or against us attitudes. 

Don’t you notice more anger ? It is impossible to have civil discussions or debates and because of that we only know what “ our” side is saying and we totally suppress any possibility of learning or comprising for the good of all.

It is fine to be passionate about a subject but being passionate does not mean shouting down others that may disagree, by doing so we just fester hate and end up with a very small inner circle.

I want to hear your side, I want to learn more about you and what environment you had around you to build your world and your opinions because if I know more I can understand more.

Debate is not just a nice thing to learn and to conduct it is vital to a democracy and to understanding the world around us.

Do not push away people with different views- learn from them - embrace them.

At the end of a discussion or debate their not have to be a declared “ winner” for the real lessons may come when you walk away and give yourself time to absorb it all , the real “ winning” is learning.