The importance of debates

Debates are expressions of freedom of speech in a democratic society and there are rules and regulations when conducting civilized debates; however, some inexperienced debaters often times than not tend to get into emotions especially when they are challenged by and confronted with demanding questions from experienced politicians.

Here at home, we have seen democracy taking place in an unprecedented manner. As a result, all contending political parties have been using all media outlets to pass their messages across to the public at large. We have also witnessed candidates aspiring for the highest political power debating freely. That is also a sign of freedom of speech and democratic right unprecedented in the history of this nation.

In any debate, any debater must comprehend his or her rights and responsibilities during the process. Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand and they are two sides of the same coin; therefore, responsible contesters must always be aware of their rights and responsibilities and they must not be carried away with emotions or irresponsible behavior.

Instead, they must become very careful and always be prudent when performing debates and when they are making public appearances especially in front of the media because the whole public is watching and judging their behavior, their characteristics and their general performances.

We have witnessed debates here at home and most of them were fair enough; however, some of them were way below the required standard and unexpected from an ordinary person let alone from any one aspiring to represent the interest of the public at large.

Here, I am referring to some comments made by some candidates against personalities and not agendas or policies. I was especially shocked to hear from some people who claim to be learned candidate making consistent personal attacks and trying to defame personalities rather than focusing on issues in question.

If this kind of incidence happens in countries with civilized political experience, those people who have been consistently making irresponsible and unethical comments using rather vulgar and offensive language will automatically be expelled or disqualified from the debate and even from the party they claim to represent.

That kind of behavior usually emanates from lack of substance or mere ignorance or from both. Unethical and uncivilized personal attack or statement against a challenger has nothing to do with any democratic and civilized debate or even freedom of speech because that kind of behavior is simply foolish and unacceptable least to say.

Providing alternative and useful agendas, programs pertinent to the developmental endeavor of the nation and the public at large has everything to do with a democratic debate. Therefore, baseless finger pointing and personal assassination on personalities and not focusing on issues is a sign of uncivilized, inexperienced and vacuum or hollow arrogance based on hate and retribution and when that comes from a person who claims to have high level academic background, one questions where that person got that so called education.

Education is supposed to help sharpen one’s attitude, behavior and personality and not to advance arrogance and egotism. Therefore, personalities and especially political personalities and candidates aspiring to represent the interest of the public at large must focus on issues, substances, programs, strategies and tactics to help their nation and the public at large and not on cheap personal attacks, insults and unethical comments that can backfire and that can have detrimental and regrettable effect on their own personalities.

Politicians are judged by those who cast votes and those who cast votes want among others gentle, intelligent and wise candidates. They want to see and hear substance not insult; so, one has to be careful not to insult the intelligence of the public at large.

The Ethiopian Herald November14, 2019

 BY YOHANNES GEBRESELLASIE (PhD

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