Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Opinion

Debate: It's worth it to listen

FABIAN SIFUENTES 
Opinion Columnist

Sometimes, the best course of action in a debate is to shut up and listen. This advice is lost on many radio and television talk-show hosts, who believe the best way to get their point across is to talk longer, louder and to name-call so opposing viewpoints cannot be heard.

There was a time when that debate tactic worked: it's called elementary school.

Thankfully, as long as print media continues to exist, readers will continue to have an opportunity to review differing viewpoints without interruption so they can make their own judgments.

"Freedom to speak ... can be maintained only by promoting debate," Walter Lippman once said.

Frosty Woolridge's November campus visit and the March protests against Dutch editorial cartoons each sparked heated exchanges on campus that deteriorated into nothing more than talking louder and longer matches a la talk show hosts, so nothing was really accomplished on either side.

The last thing anyone wants to hear is they are wrong and stupid for thinking a certain way. If you don't like being talked to in that manner, what makes anyone think talking to someone with a differing opinion in that same manner will aid their cause?

It doesn't.

The only thing it does help to do is polarize opposition to a cause out of spite. 

If people truly want to help society, they should engage in debates that entail interactive discussions -- not one-sided lecturing. Most importantly, these debates will take patience. People fail to realize some problems have festered for hundreds of years and answers aren't easily found for them. 

The latest campus controversy has been different. Since the campus debate over illegal immigration has been mostly confined to The Daily Cougar, no one has tried to sling witty and derogatory sound bytes. Debate has been centered on facts and personal anecdotes.

What I enjoyed most is reading opinions from other people who I will never meet. 

As we go through our lives, we surround ourselves with friends who have similar backgrounds and similar opinions. It is easy to be dismissive of opinions outside your circle of friends. However, the batch of Letters to the Editor last week made it difficult for me to do.

Last week was a great example of how our Founding Fathers wanted our society to function. I was reminded of that after reading everyone's letters, and I hope all of you are reminded of it also. If not, I invite you all to read them again.
 

Send comments to dccampus@mail.uh.edu