Why I Debate: The Essence of Debate

I. LOVE. DEBATE. I will admit I get nervous in a MUN (even though I’ve done many) but in an informal scenario when I feel that my stance needs to be defended, I go OFF. It is the best way to get through any situation and any scenario with some sort of clarity.

Whenever I feel like I’m right (or know I’m right) there is a burning fire that builds inside me and connects every piece of information I have ever known into one big web, stimulating every part of my brain. And when the next person is unable to respond? It’s a win for me. Unfortunately, I have little to no interest in the topics that are given in formal school debates (for example: School uniforms violate the right to self-expression) so my abilities are not of much use. And even when we get good topics, I am always told I am too emotional/passionate to be an objective debater. So I have given up.

Sometimes we debate ourselves without realizing it. One of the reasons why journaling works really well is because it forces you to confront yourself. A blank page, a pen, and A LOT of silence is perfect for internal reflection and judgement.

Our school is hosting a debate competition and as the extra curricular activities captain of our school I had to give a speech on the essence of debate. Yes, this inspired/wrote half of my blog post this month. Enjoy

The Essence of Debate

You might think that the first debate happened in a courtroom. But really - it happened when a caveman who came face to face with a mammoth asked himself: Do i run or do i hunt?

The essence of debate lies in the what, the why and the how. Unlike arguing, which is powered by emotion and ego, debate is an intellectual sport, powered by the pursuit of truth, reason and clarity.

Ancient Indians put a significant amount of importance on this intellectual sport. Not only did organized debating forums enjoy royal patronage, studying debate became a requirement for becoming a high ranking priest or sage in the pre-Buddhist kings courts.

In fact, your internal dialogue you have with yourself everyday when faced with different decisions involve multiple facets of reasoning; emotional and logical. This decision making, however small, is the foundation of what we now call DEBATE.

Debate is the critical analysis of a situation, the forming of different streams of thoughts and consciousness and sharing that logic with other people. This unique form of communication makes humans the intellectually superior race!

A beautiful poem by Rabindranath Tagore called ‘Freedom’ comes to mind :

“Freedom from the insult of dwelling in a puppet's world, where movements are started through brainless wires, repeated through mindless habits, where figures wait with patience and obedience for the master of show, to be stirred into a mimicry of life.”

This battle of the mind lays the foundation for our democracy and in today’s cultural, social and political climate, the ability to logically form, argue and sometimes even refute ideas is something we CANNOT give up.