Debate

DEBATE = to discuss, argue and deliberate upon the pros and cons of something; to think about (something, such as different options) in order to decide

QUESTION:When did you last engage in a debate?

black and white drawing of two people facing each other and touching fingers

Image: Heather Williams, H.W., M.

STORY: We all have other people in our life: family members, neighbors, friends, fellow workers, students, teachers - and we talk with these people and it is pretty common that we have disagreements. The question is: do we squabble, swear, argue and get mad when we disagree - OR - do we engage in a real debate and sit down together and deliberate upon the pros and cons of our disagreement? No, most of the time we get mad when we disagree. Yes, debates between political rivals and top level scientists (who are free from corporate profit-seeking interests) are extremely valuable - but I have learned there is great value in doing the hard WORK of arguing with my own view of a problem. How do I do this? Well, I TRANSLATE (or think straight through to the Truth) about what appears to me to be a problem. In Translation, the debate is between the appearance of a problem and the ever present TRUTH of the problem. It's been a few years since I taught this class and soon I will teach it again. Contact me and learn more: https://www.drawingtogether.com/translation-class

QUOTES

“It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.” ~ Joseph Joubert

“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” ~ Albert Einstein

“I believe that the pursuit of truth and right ideas through honest debate and rigorous argument is a noble undertaking.” ~ Charles Krauthammer

“For good ideas and true innovation, you need human interaction, conflict, argument, debate.” ~ Margaret Heffernan

“The Internet has compromised the quality of debate.” ~ Noam Chomsky

EXERCISE

STOP.

Sit quietly.

Assume an erect posture.

Sense the breath. Relax.

Allow a personal problem to come to mind.

Get your pen and paper and write a few words or draw lines expressing this problem - and then, write words or draw lines expressing the cause behind this problem (of the TRUTH).

And if you have another minute, draw lines expressing your new understanding of the energy of TRUTH flowing through a good debate.

ArticleHeather WilliamsHeather Williams, TranslationComment