Debate Club
It is quite hard to find a specific definition for what our club is. We could define it as a place where we go every Tuesday to… well, obviously, debate on topics. We could define it as a club which we joined so that we can improve our public speaking abilities. Perhaps, we can even say that we are just a group of people who love to sit around in classrooms after school hours to simply argue with one another. However, my own little definition and description of our cozy little club would have to be: a place we go to every Tuesday to metaphorically kill our opponents, yell until our voices crack, but to then leave and get a cup of coffee with our rivals and have a good laugh knowing that even though we screamed at each other for an hour we can still remain friends. It is a place where we can talk about our opinions on a certain topic and the only thing stopping us is that familiar voice saying “Speaker, please wrap it up, your time is over!” Debate taught us how to find loopholes in both sides of the argument so that we can easily defend either one of them. Funny thing is, we couldn’t stop complaining at the beginning of the year when we were assigned to represent the side that we don't believe in. Now, after SO many meetings, most of us take that same side for the sake of fun. Speaking of fun, trust me, it always is. Every debate is insanely interesting in its own way; the serious debates are inspirational and educational, and well... the... less serious ones tend to get hilarious. We have one of those unconventional debates once in a while to relax a little, and they quite often end in such a way that we start speaking in accents, yelling out some quite controversial things, slamming a printed copy of the constitution on a table and defending some arguments as a parody.
With the risk of sounding deep and inspirational, I would have to say that debate club is also a club that has had quite an effect on all our lives. It eliminated the fear of public speaking all of us had hidden inside and now anyone of us could do a six minute speech off the top of their head. It has given us more self-esteem and has taught us how to defend what we want to say in a persuasive manner. The whole process of cross examination has helped us think faster to avoid getting pushed into a corner with the embarrassment of having all your arguments disproved. We have become far
sassier over the course of this year, because us debaters basically live for that “Ohh Snapp! No she didn't!” expression on the faces of the audience when we figuratively destroy our opponent with some sassy argument.
Debate also is mind sharpening and helps in opening one's viewpoint and one's mind. As Jim Lehrer said “Well, to tell you truth, I have learned a long time ago that the trick when doing a debate, any kind of debate, is to just turn off the judgment switch in my head.” It is quite inspirational to listen to the amazing debaters we have in our team, and to have them persuade you with their fresh and innovative ideas. Personally, I would have to say that during these debates I have found that I actually have a very strong opinion on a topic I thought that I was completely indifferent on before I debated it. Not only do we have to sit and observe the other team's persuading speeches, but we are also asked to think of strong refutations, thus improving our ability to think on our feet. Debate requires us to be informed about current events and to be passionate about topics that we later on suggest to be debated.
However, it is not the pure beauty of debate that keeps us coming back week after week. It is not the amazing experience of having a civilized and inspiring argument with our fellow intellectual friends. It is not the effect that debate has on us as people. The things that drives us back to that classroom every week are… the snacks. A debate is not a debate without king-sized chips and chocolate… lots and lots of chocolate. Lately we even tease about it, playfully suggesting that we should rename the club from “Speech and Debate” club to “Gourmet dining and occasional Debate” club, to which Mrs. Filkova (our mentor) replied that it would be fun to explain this on our college recommendations.
Joke aside, it is a truly liberalizing and stimulating club that made us simply love the sport, and I would have to finish this text with the words of Margaret Thatcher, “I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job.”
With the risk of sounding deep and inspirational, I would have to say that debate club is also a club that has had quite an effect on all our lives. It eliminated the fear of public speaking all of us had hidden inside and now anyone of us could do a six minute speech off the top of their head. It has given us more self-esteem and has taught us how to defend what we want to say in a persuasive manner. The whole process of cross examination has helped us think faster to avoid getting pushed into a corner with the embarrassment of having all your arguments disproved. We have become far
sassier over the course of this year, because us debaters basically live for that “Ohh Snapp! No she didn't!” expression on the faces of the audience when we figuratively destroy our opponent with some sassy argument.
Debate also is mind sharpening and helps in opening one's viewpoint and one's mind. As Jim Lehrer said “Well, to tell you truth, I have learned a long time ago that the trick when doing a debate, any kind of debate, is to just turn off the judgment switch in my head.” It is quite inspirational to listen to the amazing debaters we have in our team, and to have them persuade you with their fresh and innovative ideas. Personally, I would have to say that during these debates I have found that I actually have a very strong opinion on a topic I thought that I was completely indifferent on before I debated it. Not only do we have to sit and observe the other team's persuading speeches, but we are also asked to think of strong refutations, thus improving our ability to think on our feet. Debate requires us to be informed about current events and to be passionate about topics that we later on suggest to be debated.
However, it is not the pure beauty of debate that keeps us coming back week after week. It is not the amazing experience of having a civilized and inspiring argument with our fellow intellectual friends. It is not the effect that debate has on us as people. The things that drives us back to that classroom every week are… the snacks. A debate is not a debate without king-sized chips and chocolate… lots and lots of chocolate. Lately we even tease about it, playfully suggesting that we should rename the club from “Speech and Debate” club to “Gourmet dining and occasional Debate” club, to which Mrs. Filkova (our mentor) replied that it would be fun to explain this on our college recommendations.
Joke aside, it is a truly liberalizing and stimulating club that made us simply love the sport, and I would have to finish this text with the words of Margaret Thatcher, “I love argument, I love debate. I don't expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that's not their job.”
Ana Arsovska