Do Debates Bring Enlightenment?

What is the point of debate? Enlightenment right? Don't you ultimately want to know the truth on any given issue? Within the 2012 US election a LOT of debates have occurred and that is an understatement. What is the point of a debate though if you are not enlightened as to a fresh understanding on issues? As with any debate on any subject at all the point is clarification of whatever the theme is. If you listen to a cross of ideas you can decipher which ideas sound clear and just to you, if the debaters are real and forthright that is. Unfortunately in political debates, and I speak of any political debate, that is not always the case and so one needs to do research to find out if what a political figure is saying is even the truth. Often one finds out that what they said is not even what their history projects or quite frankly even truthful when compared to their actions.

Debates can be about anything but they need to be honest or it only becomes a circus and a waste of time.

I always try to check out the correct definition of a word or theme I am doing a lens on, it really helps define what I am trying to say and understand. In this case the word "debate" simply means noun

a formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward.

An argument about a particular subject, esp. one in which many people are involved : the national debate on abortion | there has been much debate about prices.

Simple enough and added to that is the word "enlightenment", because that is the goal here right? Debate to gain enlightenment? The word defined means: noun

1 the action of enlightening or the state of being enlightened : Robbie looked to me for enlightenment.

The action or state of attaining or having attained spiritual knowledge or insight, in particular (in Buddhism) that awareness which frees a person from the cycle of rebirth.

This seems to suggest some sort of cosmic takeover of ones spirit, but I think, or hope might be a better word, that you get it. Once one comes to terms with a new idea that they accept the definition of, one just "gets it" and is therefore enlightened.

Is it always the truth, "enlightenment"? Well not always, sometimes we think we know something because we have made up our minds about it, but we can be wrong and unfortunately we then have to be RE-enlightened. That is the hardest thing to do though as most of us, once we decide something is one way or the other are very resistant to change. That is what is good about an HONEST, FORTHRIGHT debate though.. IF we are truly open and listening and of course are doing our OWN homework.

I am an artist first and so my perspective on things can seem elusive to others as well as my own self at times, as with this poem I wrote below.

A Fantasy Art Woman Embraces Enlightenment

Touch someone else in their heartache.

Know thirst before the rose is withered.

See bondage right before you.

Look out toward the horizon

and stand still.

Debate about enlightenment.

Accept only fragments of the words

that rush into your pond

creating rivers

before you even knew that it was raining.

It is not others who don the mask

oh no

It is you and it is I.

The salesman reeks of limitations

yet he is no different from any other warrior.

We all ponder our journey

and long to create an inner circle.

Our dreams should not be mapped

by forces outside our own imagination.

Expectations of flight should not be squandered

because others don't see our wings.

All the secrets in the world cannot tell you

what you have missed

if you only planted one single minded tree.

Take pause...

note a salesman has limitations.

They wear masks that do not show

their words are full of curtains.

Uncovered there is no tune

no whimsical musicians artwork

no fresh affirmations

that lead to new heights of refinement.

We should dance at midnight!

Feel satin on our skin

and culminate our boundaries

with a thousand and one questions.

Exalt the king inside

reproach the sounding dragon

ignore the fact that gifts are squandered

and seek out new ones.

Leave the dance exposed

when all is said and done

there is no wisdom past the mask

if the remnants of the empty salesmen

and his messages are unopened.

Decide that the page you turn

the affirmations you repeat

will be of your own making.

Step past the folded letter

it is not your law.

Reach higher

than where you thought you could barely touch

and light your own candle.

Be SIGNIFICANT to YOU.

by Kathy Ostman-Magnusen

Copyright 2012

THE IMAGE is one of my watercolor sketches. Title is not at my fingertips at the moment as I have done a zillion watercolor sketches, but it is approx 5x10. I am an artist painting mainly in oils but it is always good to do a few different mediums for fun. I am also a sculptor.

~~*~~

When I Grow Up by fever Ray

Fever Ray.. THE MUSIC and DVD's

I have been further enlightened by the conversation and correspondence of some illustrious Italians, whom I would gladly name, were I not afraid of exposing them to danger.

Edmond About

I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them but to inform their discretion.

Thomas Jefferson

I represent all the enlightened people in this country, and that's a fine thing to be able to do. It infuriates my opponents when I say this, but it is true.

Helen Suzman

I wish to say to you that the life of an enlightened people and a vibrant nation cannot be measured by the life of an individual. A successful person is one who manages to lay down a new stone, a brick that would help firm up his nation's existence.

King Hussein I

If I can bring some light to bear on problems like that, I feel that people will be enlightened not only on the question but also on a way of approaching such questions.

Marvin Harris

If on the one side we do not harbor the illusion that the entire proletariat must be enlightened before it can be called into battle, so on the other we do not doubt that as much enlightenment as possible must be produced with oral and printed agitation.

Johann Most

In Australia, they set up a special fund to kick films off. It was quite an enlightened sort of move. You could go to this government bureau with scripts and and get finance for films.

Bruce Beresford

In less enlightened times, the best way to impress women was to own a hot car. But women wised up and realized it was better to buy their own hot cars so they wouldn't have to ride around with jerks.

Scott Adams

It didn't take long for the world to realize that the Shah was an enlightened liberal next to the bloody reactionary regime that followed, and which executed more people in three months than the Shah had done in 30 years.

Alexander Haig

It is only the enlightened ruler and the wise general who will use the highest intelligence of the army for the purposes of spying, and thereby they achieve great results.

Sun Tzu

It is within your power at this very moment not only to consumate an act of enlightened statesmanship, but, as the instrument of the Almighty, to restore to freedom a race of men.

Robert Dale Owen

Making sure that when my child went to school people were enlightened enough not to torture them, you know?

Jennifer Beals

IMAGE IS ONE OF MY WATERCOLOR SKETCHES

~~*~~

Kitty O'Neill Collins said, " Debate is the death of conversation." Is this true?

I just want to point out that SOME people make up their minds about an issue based on appearance alone. Many will not watch this UTube based solely on how this little girl looks. They think they are "enlightened" and already know what she is going to say and who she is. Listen... turn this on and close your eyes, forget the accent, LISTEN and see if you are persuaded to think in another way.

~~*~~

THE IMAGE is of a watercolor sketch of mine called "Star Catcher" it is a 5x7 on watercolor paper.

~~*~~

I own this music and find it both interesting and diverse as compared to a lot of other music that I own. I enjoy this because it causes me to think beyond the norm and yet the norm exactly. It enlightens me.

Everybody wants to get enlightened but nobody wants to change. Andrew Cohen

Sometimes it takes a meditative mind to come to clear conclusions. It is always helpful to do something that enriches you.. like gardening and maybe creating a meditative spot, listening to music. There are a variety of things you can do so here are just a few to get you started.

I understood that the will could not be improved before the mind had been enlightened.

Johann Heinrich Lambert

Hang in there before deciding anything.. take it ALL in.