The Case For Debate

It was with great interest that I read the following last week: “Former Penn State wrestler, Accuweather meteorologist, national bodybuilder, and life-long Penn State wrestling enthusiast Joe Bastardi has joined the lineup of columnists at StateCollege.com.”

I was particularly drawn to this statement: “His presence in this column is also to show Joe Battista who the No. 1 JoeBa really is in this town.”

The gauntlet has been thrown down.

Let the debates begin! Who is the No. 1 JoeBa?

Joe and I have known each other for years, and we regularly get confused for one another. Our obvious physical differences notwithstanding, it has to do simply with the closeness of the spelling of our names. We have even joked about getting shirts that say “JoeBa 1” and “JoeBa 2” but could never quite agree on who would get which shirt.

Joking aside, it does allow me to touch on a subject near and dear to me: Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned debate? Why is it so difficult to hold meaningful discussion to get different perspectives and arrive at a good solution without deteriorating into a mudslinging contest?

I don’t believe everything I see or hear, so I try to form my own opinions based on as many viewpoints and facts as I can find. I stopped listening to most national talk radio because both sides lie and spew too much hatred. They’re great for entertainment, awful for getting people to work together to find reasonable solutions to what ails us.

A good friend of mine repeatedly reminds me, “Figure you know half the story at best.” and “Remember to take a dispassionate view before forming an opinion.” (I used to say that to all the parents of summer campers we would catch red-handed breaking the rules. Mom and Dad would always argue, “Not my little angel!” when told little Johnny was being disciplined.)

I’ll admit, I am a very passionate person. (I know… shocking for me to admit!) There are times when speaking my mind gets me into hot water. It is who I am and I am comfortable with it. Somebody has to push the envelope every now and then or nothing changes. Coach Paterno says it all the time: “Either we get better or worse, you can’t stay the same.”

I want to be with people who are comfortable enough in their own skin to have the courage to speak their peace and have genuine, good, old-fashioned discussion and debate “without being debatable.’ This does not include those who rant and rave about their right to free speech… as long as you share their views.

I want to be with people who can have frank, open conversations and don’t make it personal when they disagree.

I want to be with people who aren’t afraid to suggest an idea or innovation knowing that it may not, in the end be selected for implementation. If we are afraid to make mistakes, then how do we progress? We all know the stories of Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Edison and how many times they failed before they succeeded.

I have little time for people who criticize those who lay it all out on the line, whether in their professions or beliefs, and who are not afraid to make decisions even if they may prove to be unpopular and wrong sometimes.

It also helps to have some humility and to use humor to keep people from getting angry. Along that line, there is some advice I’ve given so frequently that I don’t remember when or from whom I first heard it:

“If you disagree with someone, walk a mile in their shoes. If you still disagree with them, you are a mile away, and you have their shoes!”

And so, the debate over ‘The No. 1 JoeBa’ has begun.

I am sure Joe and I will exchange barbs and make a case for why each of us is the real “JoeBa.” We will poke fun and we will sit down and pat each other on the back and have a beer. We’re not debating anything that will save the world or make either of us financially independent, but at least we know we will have good, old-fashioned debate without being debatable!

Besides, we all know who would win if we decide this debate by wrestling!