Feature
The way things are…
And the way we want it to be
SOME call it an argument; others call it a logical discussion. Some believe it depends upon the loudness of your voice; others believe it depends upon the fairness of your judgment. Like these many more contradictory statements have been circulating around me for the past three years since I took my beloved place in this arena, but nothing anyone ever said or believed could stop me from loving to debate. Was it when as a kid I asked my teacher what was the meaning of debate, was it when I started joining the debating workshops or was it when I heard the first din of cheers after my first debating speech, I don't know. All I know is that I will cherish every moment that I have given to this activity. Debating is what boosted up that courage and energy in me to make people understand why I think something is right with logical reasons. It made me realize how important it is to stand up for what we think is right and what an influencing aspect it is in our day to day life. That platform is a hallmark of free speech, a stage where a person is given the floor to express his own views to the mass people. But here lies the ultimate question- exactly how many people feel so? Having always watched, heard and read of innumerable competitions, workshops and other debate-related programs being organized in other big cities of Bangladesh, I have been forced to accept the fact that Chittagong doesn't get the proper debating exposure. There's only one organization that organizes debate competitions on a regular basis and exactly how many schools a single committee can approach to can be approximately calculated. As a result, students are not provided with an ample amount of encouragement that they require to engage themselves in this society. Of course we have both talented and experienced debaters who have recently taken part and outperformed themselves in Drishty debate championship, but in totality our sum of speakers seem to be facing a crisis in comparison to that of other cities like Dhaka. This is where we require the assistance of our organizers and the entire debating committee. We need you to provide our students with all those events that will intrigue them towards debating. We need you to introduce them to their own capability and teach them how to avail it. I'm writing this article as a plea to renovate the entire debating environment of my city. All that I can say is…… we are waiting. (Writer is a student of Bay View School, Chittagong)
You are not superstitious!
Are you sure?
It's bad luck to walk under a ladder. This came from the early Christian belief that a leaning ladder formed a triangle with the wall and ground. You must never violate the Holy Trinity by walking through a triangle, lest you be considered in league with the devil.
Beware of Friday the Thirteenth. Those who know about these things, inform us that Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden on a Friday, Noah's flood started on a Friday, and Christ was crucified on a Friday. Christians also noted that twelve witches plus one devil are present at Satanic ceremonies so Friday and 13 make a deadly combination
God Bless You. During the sixth century, it was customary to congratulate people who sneezed because they were expelling evil from their bodies. Later, when a great plague took hold of Europe, and people began sneezing violently, the Pope passed a law. Since sneezing meant that the person was going to die of plague, people were required to bless the sneezer.
Don't spill the salt. Although some people believe that Judas spilt salt during the last supper, this claim can't be proven. Salt was a very precious expensive commodity in the middle ages. It was also used for medicinal purposes. If you spilled any, you must immediately throw it over your left shoulder to strike the nasty spirits in the eye, thus preventing sickness.
Black cats are evil. In ancient Egypt, the Goddess Bast, was a black female cat. Christian priests wanted to wipe out all traces of other religions so convinced their ignorant followers to destroy the evil demons that were black cats. While they were at it, they destroyed the kindly little old ladies who cared for the cats believing them to be witches.
(Rezwana is an Undergraduate student of the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore)
|
