Political Debate!

By: Elián Zidán

In today’s polarized society, we’re so accustomed to political and social violence that moments of normalcy actually feel surprising.

This week, diplomacy made a comeback in the electoral arena, and respect took center stage when the vice-presidential candidates of the United States faced off in their first—and only—debate before the November elections.

What unfolded during this encounter between JD Vance and Tim Walz was something that, though it should be the norm, we had almost forgotten: it is possible to be political without descending into hostility!. This debate took us back to the politics of yesteryear, where differences were acknowledged but, above all, there was dialogue and mutual respect.

Unfortunately, violence has seeped into politics everywhere. It’s not just in the United States, where recent debates have been marked by personal attacks between candidates. In Mexico, we’ve witnessed uncomfortable moments in debates between the presidential candidates, and in Brazil, mayoral contenders in São Paulo physically attacked each other with a chair.

It seems like modern politics has become a reality TV show, where the main ingredients must be attacks and insults, or else it’s not considered interesting. The debate stage, rather than a place for meaningful discussion and exchange of ideas, too often feels more like a boxing ring.

This is exactly why this particular debate stands out. While it’s hard to say who "won" the debate, I’d argue that the real winners were respect and dialogue. Over the course of 90 minutes, we saw two people with starkly different views, yet they respected their political differences and, above all, showed that civility and courage can coexist.

The evening began with a friendly handshake between the candidates and ended with a warm exchange between their wives and the debate moderators.

In a time when simply thinking differently is often seen as unacceptable—and can even be considered a major problem—this vice-presidential debate, which historically doesn’t carry much weight, has given us a powerful lesson: respect should be the foundation not just of politics, but of society as a whole.

Former Mexican president Benito Juárez once said, "Between individuals, as between nations, respect for others' rights is peace." This phrase, 157 years later, has never been more relevant. It can be interpreted in various ways, but all interpretations ultimately lead to the same conclusion.

In this age of modern relativism, what we cannot afford to "normalize" is violence in any form. We all deserve respect. As citizens of the world, we need leaders who are not only capable of governing, but also of connecting their thoughts with their words.

With less than a month until millions of Americans go out to the polls, this debate—a political event that typically doesn't attract much attention—reminds us that dialogue and respect should be the real measure of success in politics.

Diplomacy and respect shouldn’t surprise us, whether they’re displayed inside or outside the political arena.