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Emma Windsor-Liscombe
Lower Sixth
Hallward's House

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Friday Debate

The debate last week was one which, I think, brought up a particularly important theme. Children. I suppose most people want them — Lord knows they seem to be a pretty abundant commodity. But in today’s world there’s just so many. Too many, I believe.

The topic was ‘This House would have governments place restrictions on human population’, and it was between East Town and School House. As usual everyone filed into the theatre in their scrambled manner and most people, if they weren’t too tired to take much notice of their surroundings, had, apparently, various conversations they’d rather pursue than be quiet and listen. However they eventually did, with the Marshal as usual giving an entertaining performance as he went through one of the lists of Houses for attendance. The actual debate went by in good time.

I thought East Town opened the debate fairly well. In fact they had quite a good argument going, which is why I think it was too bad they seemed somewhat nervous at the beginning. Certainly School House were confident, and it would appear much of the audience had contrary views which they weren’t afraid to convey. East Town’s argument was, in so many words, the world would not be able to support its population one day, if we could not find some way to control the amount of children we produce each year. This sounds completely relevant, and I find it intriguing how people would possess negative opinions about it; how many kids can you have? And anyhow, if someone really wants children, isn’t it going overboard after three, even four?

School House had obviously prepared their side of the debate. The trouble is I cannot truly pinpoint what they were trying to say. Basically, they seemed to think society should have the freedom to choose for themselves the amount of children they wanted. They also seemed to stress a possible decline in future populations if there were to be restrictions imposed on the amount of children couples could have. But really, how are any of us going to be affected by a future decline in the population? If anything, we can revel in the thought the future generations might have the pleasure of less time waiting in lines, more spaces on a bus and more opportunities to be hired for work.

To conclude, I found the debate quite entertaining. I disagree with School House’s argument but I admire them for trying. I think East Town conveyed their ideas well, therefore, when they won, this came as no surprise to me. And so, my last remark is, I hope more debates will be like the one we watched last Friday.

16 March 2010

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