On Debating

Truthful words are not beautiful.
Beautiful words are not truthful.
Good men do not argue.
         --Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching

The steps we take to change
ourselves
are far too few--
we say we'll change our ways,
yet never do.
Those who love to point and criticize
all those they think are wrong
in their eyes,
can  never see those same faults
in themselves--
and so instead of changing
their own ways,
they get embroiled
in trying to change others.
And so it continues
every  day--
those folks, who criticize what
others say,
can never see the flaws
in their words--
they act according to the principle
of who's the loudest
in expressing their moral outrage
is most justified.
For there is only one rule in debate--
just shout as loud as you can
and denigrate
all other points of view--
what's wrong with you?
why can't you see that I'm
always right?
For those who hate to argue
or to fight
will certainly agree--
for they will see
great talent in the display
of dazzling words--
for it's all rhetoric, for
the truth (which may eventually
set you free, if you only
listen) is too elusive,
too philosophical…
The main objective of all arguments
is to win--just bring your verbal
baseball bat
and whack them all with it
upside their heads
till you've proved yourself
superior in dealing blows…

But, as for me, I like the quiet
approach--for, in the end,
the truth wins out,
and surface brilliance
gives way
to common sense.


                                July 24, 2002
                           --Alexander Shaumyan