The Oxford Dictionary defines debate as "A formal discussion on a particular matter in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward and which usually ends with a vote."
With that in mind, there were no presidential debates this season. It's not even politically biased to say that there was little formality last night, and almost no discussion.
This begs the question, where has respect gone?
I'm not sure if this has been a value in decline for years or if I never really saw the days where mutual respect was a way of life, but I've always held the belief that discussions were about ideas, not insults. Your honor was something held above petty disagreements, and stooping to others level was to be avoided when possible. Two people can have completely different opinions, yet at the end of the day get together and joke around.These days however, it seems like something as stupid as the color of a dress (sorry to bring back that seething wound) can't be talked about with a verbal fight starting.
Why, you may ask, have we gotten to this point? Simply, it seems that this is a lost era. Whereas people used to find purpose in their work, family, service, and community, we are a society lacking in meaning. People are constantly searching for themselves, looking for any source that can tell them who they are (and believe me, there are an endless amount of people that will be glad to sell you an answer). Adults have less friends then before, especially men. Just giving people a chance to join a group and feel a sense of purpose and belonging feels like a lifesaver at times. This is how politics, fandoms, and sports have become such big parts of our culture.
This is also where the problem lies. The second you change from a supporter to a fan, just about anything your side says can be justified. Anything the other side says can be demonized. Don't be surprised for a second when people take advantage of this.
At the same time, you begin to create the sense of "the other". It's "us vs them", and things will only get better "if our side wins." Compromise goes out the window, and communion between groups becomes a pipe dream.
No matter who wins what, WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE PROBLEMS! There is no perfect solution for life, and we're in it for the long run. So just agree to disagree, and talk about something else if you have to. Try and get along for once...sheesh.
I'll let the great writer Homer end this one:
