There was once a time when it was possible to have an honest and civil debate, not just between two people who generally agreed, but also between people who, if the not-so-proverbial revolution ever came, each would have the other as the “first against the wall”. This allowed one to refine one’s own arguments while elucidating and understand the arguments being made on the other side. Even when debating someone with whom one generally agrees with, an honest discussion will do more to illuminate one’s position than preaching to the choir with bromides and pre-written soundbites.
A perfect example of this was William F. Buckley, Jr.’s “Firing Line” which ran from 1966 to 1999. In the hopes of encouraging a more civil, and illuminating, discourse, episodes will be posted her on (most) Fridays.
To kick things off, the episode the pitted Buckley with “Rules for Radicals” author Saul Alinsky.
Until next Friday.
