Debate Dilemma

For advanced ESL, there may be no better method of practicing one's fluency and competence in English than to take part in a lively debate, but in the People's Republic of China, that is easier said than done. Traditionally, social and political issues are at the heart of a good debate topic; yet, the level of social awareness among college students is relatively low, and politics is nearly non-existent in the traditional sense of having a forum for resolving conflicting ideas, since there is only one idea: the Party's.



When it comes to social conscience and awareness, there is a blind spot among some of the most pressing issues, while others are coloured and formed by the state media, most people's only source of information. A prime example is the struggle against STDs and AIDS in particular. Although awareness and education in this matter is improving, it is nevertheless not considered a social problem. Likewise, abortion – primarily as a result of the one-child policy – is a fact of life and no one considers it wrong. A couple found to have conceived a second child are expected to abort the child or both parents will find themselves unemployed and unemployable.

Political issues are even more of a non-topic. Even something such as the Dalai Lama's visit with French President Nicolas Sarkozy is roundly rejected by nearly all Chinese as an affront, apparently unaware of their hypocrisy, namely that no country can tell China what to do, while at the same time telling another country who its leaders can and cannot meet. Inconsistencies and flat-out logical contradictions be damned: one world, one opinion. Issues such as Tibet, Taiwan, and East Turkestan are even less debatable, and the mere suggestion of a debate (2 sides) will result in vehemence.

So, with all the real issues either non-debatable what is left to pick over? Sadly, debate topics are normally benign and insipid. Should college students have part-time jobs? Should high-school students have girl/boyfriends? That's as deep as the conversation can get. This lack of intellectual curiosity and debate, has had a knock-on effect throughout the entire system and is a poignant example of a country wide problem that spans not only education, but industry as well. This ranking of the top Asia-Pacific universities shows the result of this type of lack of innovation and healthy debate. The world's most populace nation's top university is nine below the comparatively tiny nation of Japan. Now, one can claim – as they often do when useful – that China is a developing nation, but from the display at the Olympics, socialism with Chinese characteristics is a force for change and success; it only depends on which area it wishes to focus on, and in this case, intellectualism, the bane of a totalitarian state, is not it.