The Stewart and O’Rielly debate is a lesson in civility

To some the Jon Stewart Bill O’Rielly debate about the rapper Common being invited to the poetry night at the White House was a lesson in futility, it presented more to me. It was an encouragement to me to see two different views presented by two different people and personalities.  They both presented their points and counter points in a civil and adult manner.  Even though neither was willing to give any ground and to a few it may have seem to be a waste of time, I say that it was not.

If one paid true attention to the way each presented his case and how the other responded, it should have shown us that a real debate does not have to result in harsh words or disrespect of the opposition.  It should have shown us that just because a person disagrees with your position that alone does not make them an enemy nor does it make them one that you must convince.  What is should show is that it provides you with a person whom you can actually learned from and educate at the same time.  You can learn well about their opposition while educating them on better understanding yours and in the end, isn’t that what a real debate is all about.

In history many will bring up the Lincoln- Douglas Debate as a point of reference where two men stood on opposite sides of an issue.  Made their points and counterpoints quite effective but left the arena not divided as a people but separated by a slim difference of ideas.  We should all be so lucky to have at least one person whom we can disagree while refusing to be disagreeable.  The Stewart-O’Rielly debate was one of those events which comes every so often but seldom appreciated for its educational value.

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