The University debate team argued the merits of limiting speech supporting terrorist violence last night in an event sponsored by the Concerned Faculty for Peace and Justice and the University Forensics Team.
The subject of banning free speech supporting terrorism is one both the United States and Britain are debating right now, debate team coach Aaron Donaldson said.
Amy Bullock, a history and political science major, began the debate for the side supporting government restrictions on pro-terror speech by arguing that “it is important for every freedom to have its limits.”
That idea summed up the government’s main argument, and Jason Lear, also majoring in political science, added that the opposition “ignores the blood-curdling effect of words.”
“Because our nation has a right to self defense, that necessitates limiting speech that supports and incites violence,” Bullock said, concluding her speech. “Prevention of such speech will serve as a blow to efforts of indoctrinating young people into the ideology of terrorism.”
Adam Lorts, an economics major, headed the opposition’s argument, stating that “this country was founded on our ability to say whatever we want whenever we want.” Lorts and political science major and four-year debate team veteran Brad Krupicka centered their argument on the belief that the only way injustice around the world can be fixed is by allowing people to bring it to life using free speech.
Krupicka used a high-school textbook to prove his side of the argument. He read about the 1773 Boston Tea Party and compared American rebels to modern-day terrorists.
“There is a contradiction between what we call terrorism these days versus the actual history of U.S. colonists,” Krupicka argued.
Before the debate, Lear, Lorts, Bullock and Krupicka split into two teams. The two teams were split up randomly, so members had to argue their side even if they personally did not agree with their assigned side.
“This debate offers an opportunity for students to stand in a corner they’ve never stood in and argue for something they wouldn’t normally argue for,” Donaldson said.
Both teams were allowed two seven-minute speeches to prove their points.
Earlier, Donaldson talked about the popularity of debate in Ireland, where live debates are often televised. Ireland is host to the World Debate Championships. Donaldson and Lear recently finished in the top eight in the championships, representing the first public school to advance past the preliminary round in the championship’s 26-year history.
The team held three debates last year and will have its next sometime during spring term, Donaldson said.
He said the focus of the spring debate will be China and its human rights policy.
Thursday’s debate was the first of the year for the University’s debate team.
“This debate, our first of the year, really gets the ball rolling,” Donaldson said. “This was an opportunity to use our debate skills in an environment with a crowd.”