Opening Statement
Practical abilities of an individual are vital in defining one’s future, and his or her ability to transform society. Life is based on what an individual can do to transform it to be a better place for all humanity. We all agree with the fact that interpersonal relationship is crucial in our society. Our society is knitted in a strong fabric based on how we relate to one another. We know how to stay together as a society, and respect everyone.
The love we have for other members of the society and support that we are always ready to give to others have defined us as a unique country. We are always concerned about the welfare of others, and this is a positive thing. This is attributed to interpersonal relationships.
However, the nature of the disagreement in this argument is an attempt to equate the interpersonal relationship with practical abilities. Claiming that practical abilities are of lesser value than interpersonal skills is a lie that has no basis.
The vehicle of our society is driven by the fuel of our practical abilities. When this fuel is lacking, then this vehicle will be grounded, and the result will be anarchy. Interpersonal relationships will cease to have the meaning as everyone will try to earn a living using any means, including infringing into other people’s rights. Interpersonal relationships only exist in a society that has plenty.
That is when it makes sense for the society members to appreciate the need to live in an orderly manner. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the most basic need of a human being is the physiological needs (King 78). This can only be achieved by practical abilities.
After meeting these needs, then social needs, such as interpersonal skills may be realized. This is a clear indication that interpersonal skills are secondary to practical abilities. This is the basis of our argument in this debate.
We understand why the proposers of this motion argue that interpersonal skills are better than practical abilities. It is because they are living in a society where physiological needs have been met. Therefore, they consider it as less important as they seek to achieve higher ranking needs.
However, their shortsightedness has made them misunderstand this issue in its right context. If we ignore our practical abilities, we may lose what we currently have, and this may bring chaos in this society.
The United States of America is the greatest nation in the world because of the practical abilities of great men and women who founded it. We are great as a society and admired by many, not because we can convince the world over some issues, but because we lead by practical examples. We act, and the world can see the impact of our actions, and this speaks on behalf of the American society.
The American dream, a force that has been driving this country towards success, is based on the practical abilities of individual Americans (Cullen 54). We are the only superpower in the world today because of our practical capabilities. People around the world admire the country, and this explains why we have the highest percentage of an immigrant in the world.
America is the most diversified country in the world because people come from all corners of the world just to share in the American dream. The dream makes them believe that it is only in this country that they can achieve their goals in a practical manner.
This is so because we have demonstrated to the world that we have practical abilities in different fields. It is because of this that I believe that practical abilities are more important than interpersonal relationships.
Responding to Opening Statement
It is a clear fact that practical abilities are what define the greatness of a country or a society (Sternberg 71). It forms the base upon which interpersonal relationships can blossom. My argument is supported by several theories and practical researches, the top of which is the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. According to this theory, one must meet primary needs, which are basic, before any secondary need can be met.
It is a fact that practical abilities focus on meeting the primary needs of members of this society. An interpersonal relationship is a social need, and in Maslow’s ranking, it comes third after physiological and security needs. This only shows that it is unrealistic to argue that such a tertiary need ranked third may be more important than the need ranked first.
We understand that the proposers in this discussion have not experienced the negative effects of poverty in society. I have taken some time to analyze what is taking place in the third world countries, especially in Africa and parts of Asia, and the truth is that we are lucky because we have practical abilities that have enabled us to fight poverty. We have the innovators, and for this reason, own some of the largest companies in the world.
Our society can give donations to various countries because our practical ability makes us have an excess of some of these basic needs. Society members can seek higher social satisfaction because our practical abilities have helped us secure the first two basic needs (Heider 24).
When people have plenty, they need to engage in activities that may jeopardize security diminishes. This is so because they will have a reason to embrace peace and security to protect their wealth. We associate this with our practical abilities.
Let the proposers be reminded that our glorious position in the world is subject to what we are doing now. If we embrace a change that will make our society weak, then it may affect our ability to maintain this position.
Closing Statement
We have listened to the arguments put forward by the proposers in this debate, and we agree with them on the fact that interpersonal relationship is important. However, we have proven to this class that was trying to argue that interpersonal relationship is more important than practical abilities is a misguided approach of reasoning.
Although their argument is useful, they forget the fact that interpersonal skills can only be relevant when we have practical abilities. If we ignore practical abilities, we may expose our society to harm. People will not appreciate the need to have practical abilities in various fields. We will start looking for experts from outside the country.
This will make us lose our glorious position as a country where dreams are realized. It is because of this that I request you- ladies and gentlemen- to oppose the argument that interpersonal relationship is more important than practical abilities.
Works Cited
Cullen, Jim. The American Dream: A Short History of an Idea That Shaped a Nation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004. Print.
Heider Fritz. The Psychology of Interpersonal Relations. New York: Cengage, 2013. Print.
King, Paul. Climbing Maslow’s Pyramid. Leicester: Matador, 2009. Print.
Sternberg, Robert. Practical Intelligence in Everyday Life. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Print.