Debating why?

Last night was the debate finals for Casasito. I talked about the debates earlier in this blog, and after many months of work, the finalists in groups of two debated over two subjects. The first was over how to eliminate police corruption, (quite a bold topic I thought, as the armed policemen stood outside the building on the street corner), and whether to reform the education system in Guatemala or not. The setting was very professional, on a large stage with microphones and a nice sized audience and panel of judges. The kids debated as well as one could expect them too, but were lacking in research and effective questioning techniques I thought. It was an extraordinary amount of work for the kids, really, young adults, to get to where they were, and I admire them for their persistence.
Afterwards when the volunteers were all discussing the debates, we collectively wondered, could we come up with a plan to solve corruption of fix the education system in Guatemala? Especially when the constant opposing factor is, "there's no money to make these changes with." I mean, how can you argue against that? If the plan you have to fix something simply can't be done, then you lose! And this isn't just the problem for the debates. This is the reality! It is how the politicians debate too! What a nightmare. The mentality is "it is better to have no change than to allow the other party to be successful" but not in the we need to debate for the sake of coming to an agreement or compromise. It is in the way of either we get everything we ask for or nothing. If they refuse to alter their views, why the they debating?

Tonight we had another Chinese feast at our director Alice's house, made by her sister Ella. Not only is the food to die for, but the company and conversation is and educational. Germany, Israel, the States, Canada, Guatemala, China, and Spain were the represented countries at the small table. Everybody volumes of insight to share about every topic imaginable, and finally my Spanish is good enough to where I can understand most of what is being said. Simply put, it is unlike any other dinner conversation I have ever had. I have the uneasy feeling though that it will decrease my low opinion of available conversation with peers in the dining hall at school. What a place this is. I definitively do not want to go home in the States permanently. I wish either the good things from Guatemala would come to the States, or the good things from the States would come to Guatemala. Here is a picture of the debates: