Debate – An Effective Medium to Advocate Social Issues
Debate is an effective tool for raising awareness or to take on a prevalent social issue, peacefully and rationally to bring change or make progress, to which there are differing opinions and reactions. Participating in debates exposes people to a diverse range of ideas which further assists them in opening their minds up to a higher level of intellect.
Debates have been the favorite part of curriculum in schools, colleges and universities for a long time. A debate informs both the debater and the audience on the topic on which the participants of the debate argue on an individual level. The topics of debate could range vastly from science to morality, politics to literature, social issues to climate change, and so on. The debater, while preparing for the debates, researches and gathers a tremendous amount of information on the subject while the listeners also learn the same through the debater’s argument.
The democratic society that we live in has empowered us with the freedom of speech. This freedom allows us to express our viewpoints on any topic and discuss it further with others. Whether it is about social issues or political, people across the globe like to bring up the important matters and discuss them. One can see that on many websites and forums where people debate over various issues. Topics range from regional to global problems that people are faced with everyday. One of such online platform is halabol.com, where anyone can start a debate or participate in a debate. Here people debate about different topics. Recently, a halabol team member started a debate about the education system in our country.
In his opinion, we confine ourselves merely to academics in the name of education. Education needs to be thought of in a much bigger way. Not all can be good at academics. So when we lay stress on academic education such young ones tend to get de-motivated, they absorb a thinking that they are good for nothing and develop a feeling of being discarded from the society just for not being able to secure marks in the classroom examination. Such is our bias towards academics that we tend to know only how the other child is faring in the school / college whenever we make social visits to acquainted families or when we meet in a friends circle. The child in any home would then feel crest fallen if he/she is not academically on the brighter side. When no one tries to recognize his/her other strong points, such children tend to lose their proficiency in whatever extra-curricular activities they are beginning to be expert at. It is like taking interest in a young Indian who plays cricket and shunning those who play other sports even better. This practice needs to be stopped. Education is essential but it need not be only academics. It can be excelling in any field after learning & taking adequate training in the same. We all need to change our attitudes to make life simpler for the generation next. Many people participated in this debate and shared their opinions.
In order to participate in such online debates you need not be an academic. All you require is the ability to see through the issues and contribute with a logical point of view. While participating in a popular debate platform, you are likely to come across some excellent contributors who will enrich your thoughts. Active participation encourages you to construct arguments in your support, and in the process makes use of your analytical and presentation skills. You become a part of the thought process in the society.
About Author:
Nikhlesh, a member of team Halabol Team, is a chemical engineer from N.I.T. and an MBA. He has written several articles for Halabol on different issues such as; animal welfare, education, health, environment, youth affairs and social work. Here in this article he has raised his voice against the current eduction sytem in our country through debates.
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