"Who is the judge?"
"The judge is God."
"Why is he God?"
"Because he decides who wins or loses. Not my opponent."
"Who is your opponent?"
"He does not exist."
"Why does he not exist?"
"Because he is a mere dissenting voice of the truth I speak!"
In the movie The Great Debaters, the charismatic Melvin B. Tolson, played by Denzel Washington, forces his debaters to recite this memorable catechism. This quote is inspirational to me because it embodies the most important aspect of debate. There is no right or wrong - the judge is impartial, a higher power. I control my own destiny; therefore if I argue perfectly, I can never lose. Understanding this has empowered me to believe in myself and to appreciate the intellectual structure of debate. In Lincoln-Douglas debate, resolutions are real-world issues centered upon important philosophical questions and conflicts. One must argue both sides of a resolution, regardless of one's own opinions on the matter. This has forced me to become adept at looking at issues from all angles.
Debate has changed how I see the world. It has taught me that the justification of law and policy always lies at the intersection of moral principles and pragmatic considerations. For example, a resolution about mandatory vaccinations comes to mind. Ideologically, it was a conflict between individual rights and public welfare. In a democracy, which should be given priority? Practically, it was a debate about the science of eradicating diseases, the logistics of vaccinating everyone, and the number of people who would receive vaccinations even if they weren't mandatory. A winning argument had to both address the scientific aspects of vaccination policy and make a compelling case for how we should interpret fundamental American values.
Well-prepared debaters are familiar with all the major arguments and evidence at hand. Therefore, knowledge and intelligence are not always enough to win. Great debaters win by catching their opponents off-guard. I fluster my opponents by going out of my way to include less well-known examples of history, which are harder to refute. In my rebuttals, I surprise my competition with bold counterarguments they are not prepared to hear. Debate has pushed me to think outside of the box. It has also forced me to be a much more attentive listener.
Most of the opponents we face benefit from having debate as an official course. Our program, on the other hand, is run by a few Harvard students on a volunteer basis. Although very knowledgeable and resourceful, they only have time to meet once a week. To keep up with the competition, I spend many hours researching evidence and constructing my arguments independently. I always seek advice and ideas from whomever I can. I've earned my success through self-motivation and by taking initiative.
Four years ago, I was the only freshman on a team of seven. Hardly anyone outside of the debate team even knew it existed. Starting sophomore year, I made sure - through word of mouth - that everyone I knew was aware of the team. Now, debate has become one of the most popular extracurriculars in our school. I am co-captain of a twenty-five member team, and mentoring new debaters is an activity I truly enjoy. While my teammates and coaches also deserve credit for our progress, I've assumed a leadership role through the influence and responsibility I've exerted.
I am a fairly good debater, but I'm not a champion. I've gone 4-0 at tournaments, but I've also lost fairly badly on other occasions. I'd be dishonest if I told you winning doesn't matter, yet if I wrote only about my success, I wouldn't be telling you what is most interesting about myself. The skills and wisdom I've gained through debate are an important part of what defines me. I have learned how to lead, how to compete, and most importantly, how to think sharply.
"The judge is God."
"Why is he God?"
"Because he decides who wins or loses. Not my opponent."
"Who is your opponent?"
"He does not exist."
"Why does he not exist?"
"Because he is a mere dissenting voice of the truth I speak!"
In the movie The Great Debaters, the charismatic Melvin B. Tolson, played by Denzel Washington, forces his debaters to recite this memorable catechism. This quote is inspirational to me because it embodies the most important aspect of debate. There is no right or wrong - the judge is impartial, a higher power. I control my own destiny; therefore if I argue perfectly, I can never lose. Understanding this has empowered me to believe in myself and to appreciate the intellectual structure of debate. In Lincoln-Douglas debate, resolutions are real-world issues centered upon important philosophical questions and conflicts. One must argue both sides of a resolution, regardless of one's own opinions on the matter. This has forced me to become adept at looking at issues from all angles.
Debate has changed how I see the world. It has taught me that the justification of law and policy always lies at the intersection of moral principles and pragmatic considerations. For example, a resolution about mandatory vaccinations comes to mind. Ideologically, it was a conflict between individual rights and public welfare. In a democracy, which should be given priority? Practically, it was a debate about the science of eradicating diseases, the logistics of vaccinating everyone, and the number of people who would receive vaccinations even if they weren't mandatory. A winning argument had to both address the scientific aspects of vaccination policy and make a compelling case for how we should interpret fundamental American values.
Well-prepared debaters are familiar with all the major arguments and evidence at hand. Therefore, knowledge and intelligence are not always enough to win. Great debaters win by catching their opponents off-guard. I fluster my opponents by going out of my way to include less well-known examples of history, which are harder to refute. In my rebuttals, I surprise my competition with bold counterarguments they are not prepared to hear. Debate has pushed me to think outside of the box. It has also forced me to be a much more attentive listener.
Most of the opponents we face benefit from having debate as an official course. Our program, on the other hand, is run by a few Harvard students on a volunteer basis. Although very knowledgeable and resourceful, they only have time to meet once a week. To keep up with the competition, I spend many hours researching evidence and constructing my arguments independently. I always seek advice and ideas from whomever I can. I've earned my success through self-motivation and by taking initiative.
Four years ago, I was the only freshman on a team of seven. Hardly anyone outside of the debate team even knew it existed. Starting sophomore year, I made sure - through word of mouth - that everyone I knew was aware of the team. Now, debate has become one of the most popular extracurriculars in our school. I am co-captain of a twenty-five member team, and mentoring new debaters is an activity I truly enjoy. While my teammates and coaches also deserve credit for our progress, I've assumed a leadership role through the influence and responsibility I've exerted.
I am a fairly good debater, but I'm not a champion. I've gone 4-0 at tournaments, but I've also lost fairly badly on other occasions. I'd be dishonest if I told you winning doesn't matter, yet if I wrote only about my success, I wouldn't be telling you what is most interesting about myself. The skills and wisdom I've gained through debate are an important part of what defines me. I have learned how to lead, how to compete, and most importantly, how to think sharply.