The Debate

10-23-2013

This weekend is matriculation time. I always thought that matriculation is at graduation time in June for graduates. Not so here at Cuttington, for matriculation ceremonies are both for incoming Freshman and for those Seniors graduating next June. To mark this double matriculation a number of sporting events, a bonfire, and a debate occur. Last night I went to the student debate. My College of Natural Science is first to debate on the subject “The Youth of Liberia are prepared to run the State”. They had the con position against the Business College who had the pro position.

The posted time for the debate is 6:00 pm at the cafeteria. I go there with one of the debate judges.

No one there, but chairs and stage look ready. I ask a student about the debate time, he says about 6:30 when the power is restored. Sounds reasonable to me.  At 6:30 I am there with another two debate judges. Still no one there but there is power. So I ask one of debate contestants when the debate might start, he says about 8:00 after the students have finished their evening snack. About 7:30 people start to take seats. At about 8:00 power is suddenly lost. We sit in the dark lit by hundreds of cell phones. At 8:30 power returns and the place is packed. The debate teams enter to cheers from their supporters and after about 30 minutes of introductions and a lengthy explanation of the rules of which almost no one can hear over the din, the debate begins.

I always thought debates are supposed to be about facts, each side countering the others contentions.

The debates here are a combination of gospel revival, political rally, and sporting event. Emotional rhetoric is at a fever pitch and supporting evidence non-existent. The judges seeming enthralled by the dynamism of the event and the yelling of the crowd that note taking just wastes paper. One thing is for sure, the debate is entertaining, if totally lacking in any substance.

As one expects, the position of the pro position that youth are prepared to run the state is widely accepted by the students with the main supporting argument that those in the room, the exceptional students of Cuttington, are prepared because they are here. The con position just says the youth lack experience to run the state.

My question is “Is anyone prepared to run the state?” anywhere. We only have to look at our own inability to agree on anything. At least in Liberia, politics and the future politicians do lack pizazz.

As a footnote, the College of Natural Science won the debate. My students all made it to my 7:00 am Genetics class, tired but feeling confident that they are ready to run the state.