DJ, play our music
I wish we could stay here forever
The British Parliamentary (BP) debate involves 4 teams in every debate room. Every team has two members. While the other two teams argue against the motion, two teams support it. The format’s beauty is that, in addition to defeating two teams arguing on the opposing side, each team must establish itself as the most relevant in the debate to beat the team arguing on the same side and sometimes contradicting them. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there.
Speeches are 7 minutes long and motions are announced for preparation 15 minutes in advance. Teams can’t use smartphones to prepare. Some motions debated by the house include “This House believes religious institutions should pay taxes,” “This House rejects the unjust global scramble for cobalt in the Congo” and “This House would prefer a world without homework,” and many more. You’re compelled to read everything to enlarge your thinking.
Names like Immanuel Kant. René Descartes. James Baldwin. Lewis Gordon. Charles W. Mills. Max Weber. Émile Durkheim. Ruha Benjamin. bell hooks. Karl Marx. Olaudah Equiano. Sophia Bosede Oluwole, have become all too familiar. An -ism is mentioned as part of a debate motion and you are prepared to sing every lyric to it in seven minutes. A winner emerges, the job of the chief adjudicator is done. The next minute, we’re no longer debaters but ordinary people having casual discussions about the pharmaceuticals, military, and prison industrial complexes during karaoke nights.
Karaoke nights. This is the benefit package that comes with every debate championship. This is where we form clusters based on similarity and perpetuate stereotypes about the other clusters we have debated all day. We are no longer operating as the Opening Government (OG), Closing Government (CG), Opening Opposition (OO) or Closing Opposition (CO). There is, however, still the unstated need to present the best logical analysis as to why the particular point should be supported or defeated. The judges have reverted to their original role as debaters. This is one instance where they cannot afford to withhold their opinions.
In this world we have created, everyone confronts their ignorance in the face of glaring evidence and learns to appreciate nuances and contexts. The debater’s world is idealistic. The debater’s world is similar to the DJ’s; they believe no one should be left behind. So, they both strive to negotiate a common ground, a common song, and that’s a world we can all stay forever.
