Last night’s debates could only add to the confusion. I followed them in a state of deliberate impartiality. To the undecided for sure the debates generated a legitimate mental cliff, which only more indecision could bring as a result.
Without exception, the display of “fighting cocks” was for the rude interruption, for the chaotic “conversation” of two talking at once, for the accusations of lies, falsehood and inaccuracy. Expressions of sarcasm were not lacking, nor were intentional manipulations and manipulative argumentation. To make matters worse, at the end between hugs and clasped hands, we witnessed a public demonstration of hypocrisy, celebrated by Ignacio Santos and Pilar Cisneros as a demonstration of civility. That is, we accused each other of liars, falsifiers of data, malicious inaccuracies and much more, and at the end, as it was all a staged theater, we hugged and congratulated each other with bewitching smiles. I do not understand.
Last night’s debates resembled piñatas to me. From childhood we are taught that it’s fun to beat up a super hero, a beloved character or a colorful, happy figure. Then they teach us that even if we break it to pieces we can enjoy what’s inside, with the valuable addition that we should throw ourselves for the candies when they fall to the ground, in a wild and selfish collective demonstration that whoever is more aggressively tagarote gets more. Or, it wins even more candy if on top of that and against desirability, a mother rushes to help her helpless son or daughter and then fills his or her bag with more candy than he or she will be able to eat without getting sick.
Last night’s debates were a demonstration of this type, they taught negative lessons and undesirable values. However, it is worth concluding by exalting the positive, they opened space for controversy, often a dialogue of the deaf, and lived in respect for freedom of expression.
Blessed democracy, there is nothing better. In the meantime, as before the debates, I remain firm in the yes, that it would be insane to think of obtaining different and better results, doing the same thing.