don't blog that!

If you look at this evidence, I’m sure you’ll agree!

Out of all the things I miss at high school, one desire that I haven’t been able to sate in any other way has been the heated intensity of Debate Club.

There is really nothing I enjoy more than a heated discussion about a controversial social or political issue.  Gay marriage, socialized health care, capital punishment, the legalization of marijuana, or even subjects as risque as the school dress code.  Anything and everything is a target — I find enjoyment in a contest of wits, a challenge in thinking my arguments through.  Often a debate will make me think about my opinion even more, make me explore the little nooks and crannies of my side.

Really, thinking is the most important part.  I was and am just as willing to play the devil’s advocate and argue agaist an opinion that I agree with because it gives me a new perspective, and I hope provides a means for others to understand why they believe what they do.

Our entire society (In the good ol’ US of A, that is) is based upon the idea of a thinking, well educated society, being able to make the wisest choice for the whole.  In a world where the media manipulates most of the population, where advertisement pervades the streets, where truth is a rumor rarely repeated, the only way any good decisions can be made is if people are forced to think and fight for the opinions they have.

I would like to believe that I am immune to most of the propaganda spread by the people today, but I know that isn’t true.  Often I find a brief conversation with someone makes me realize that some of my beliefs are baseless, that I really have no reason to think that way.  Those moments are the ones that society, in general, needs more of.

Whether it would kill advertisers’ business models or not is inconsequential.