Debate Club

Debate Club

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"Ladies and gentlemen, please quiet down. The debate is set to begin. I am Mr. Takeshi and I will be the moderator this afternoon. Today's debate will be between Mr. Kenji Setou, of class 3-2, and Ms. Suzu Suzuki, of class 3-3. They will be discussing Gender Rights in society. Take your seats, and let's begin. Mr. Setou, you may deliver your opening statement."

Kenji adjusted his glasses against the glare of the late-afternoon sun. He slowly adjusted his notecards before dropping them into the trashbin beneath the podium. He wouldn't need notes for this.

"Gentlemen. There is an epidemic on our hands. The feminist machine has infiltrated the very fabric of our society! They claim to fight for equality, and yet they actively drag down the race of men!" Kenji pounded the podium with each statement, his volume steadily increasing. "They demand EQUAL treatment, yet complain about the lack of SPECIAL treatment! They propogate the belief that men are evil! Gentlemen, WE MUST NOT LET THIS CONTINUE! FIGHT THE POWER! OVERTHR-"

"MR. SETOU, please refrain from incendiary and belligerent comments. Your time is up. Ms. Suzuki?"

A girl with tired green eyes took her place at the podium and straightened her pencil skirt. She knocked her stack of papers against the podium and delicately cleared her throat.

"Thank you, Mr. Takeshi. Ladies and gentlemen, I am here today to dispel some myths concerning feminism, and to recount the current hurdles we face in modern society. I will discuss the role of the 'patriarchy,' and explain what that term means. I will explain 'rape culture' and talk about how and why this facet of society is a problem today. Finally, I hope that I can help to answer any other questions the audience may have. Thank you."

Kenji watched Suzu step gracefully down from her podium. So that's how she wanted to play it, huh? Well, two could play at that. Deep cover Kenji engage.

"Thank you, Ms. Suzuki. Now, I will open the floor to the first topic of conversation. What, if any, is the major problem with any sort of equality movement today? Mr. Setou, you won the coin toss before we began, so you may start."

Kenji stepped to his podium and cursed the fact that he had forgotten his puppets.

"Gentlemen, the problem with today is literally with the feminist movement. They claim to qant sexual equality, yet propogate the image that men are brutes and that women are all victims of some benign," he raised his fingers in air quotes, "'patriarchy'. Completely imbecilic. Idiotic. The fact of the matter is that the feminists themselves are creating and enforcing the institutions that they claim to be fighting against. The bottom line is that there is no reason for men to want to suppress women, and so they don't. Feminists, gentlemen, are the problem."

A few scattered claps sounded through the room as Kenji stepped down. Suzu stepped up to her podium and glared at the bespectacled boy.

"Wrong. Very, very wrong. Explain, then, the fact that men and women aren't earning the same amount of money? That is only one example among many of the horrors of the patriarchy. The thing is, feminism does not enforce the idea of the patriarchy at all. In fact, quite the opposite. The patriarchy says that men are stupid and incapable of change. The patriarchy says that men are animalistic brutes. Just look at the male-dominated media. Every male has to have a six-pack and fall for the beautiful woman. The male-dominated media says that men can't cry or can't show emotion. That's what the patriarchy says. Feminists hold that men are capable, and in fact are, more than that."

A few cheers accompanied Suzu's emphatic thump of her podium. Kenji immediately jumped to his feet and pointed an accusing finger at the blue-haired girl.

"No! Absolutely not! What sample size are you even using, you dumb broad? A vast majority of men are simply more qualified, and so make more money. It's common business practice. Don't even get me started on how women receive extra help getting into college or other business programs. Look at domestic abuse stories! A man is automatically the abuser, even if the woman is the one to hit him! This is completely dumb! Men are automatically assumed to be the aggressors in any form! Just look- PAY ATTENTION!"

Suzu jerked her head up with a start. "Oops, sorry." Suzu shot a sly grin over to Kenji. "Narcolepsy."

Oh no. The gloves were coming off.

"Listen, you green-haired broad. Feminism is the biggest reason that women are still considered lesser, and IT'S BECAUSE IT SUITS YOUR NEFARIOUS PURPOSES!"

Suzu jumped up to her podium and shouted over the moderator.

"WHAT ARE YOU EVEN BLATHERING ABOUT? Please go! Rape culture is the thing holding women back, and you know it!"

Kenji jerked as if slapped and squinted. "Please go"? Did that bitch really just go where he thought she did? Okay. He could fight fire with fire.

"You're implying that men rape and create a culture of it! Do you have a single fact to back that up?"

"Rape culture is a real thing! Victim shaming is rampant! If someone gets robbed, do people blame him for leaving a welcome mat on his doorstep or trimming his hedges a certain way? NO! It's the same thing with rape. The girl is never asking for it, I promise."

Kenji grinned a sadistic smile. "Frustrated, Suzuki? You mad? What about when a woman rapes a man, huh?"

Suzu answered with an animalistic grin of her own. "Implying that can actually happen. Face it, Setou! Feminism is trying to find equality, but men are all seeking to shoot it down!"

"IF ANYONE IS TRYING TO SHOOT ANYTHING DOWN IT'S THE FEMINIST CONSPIRACY! STOP TRYING TO DRAW ATTENTION AWAY FROM THAT!"

"Stop right there, you glasses wearing autist! There is no feminist conspiracy! You're just trying to hide the fact that you're losing! There is so much damage control going on."

"Back off, bitch! You're the one who said that women can't rape men! You're obviously not looking for equality."

"That's not what I meant at all! Look at the context!"

"Look at me, I'm Suzuki and I was only pretending to be retarded!"

"Back off, you idiot manlet!"

"Stupid whore!"

"Ugly pig!"

"Pedantic slut!"

"TIME! TIME IS UP. STOP. IMMEDIATELY. THE DEBATE IS OVER."

Mr. Takeshi slammed his own desk until the two debators stepped down. People began to slowly make their way out of the room until only Suzu and Kenji were left. The green-eyed girl shyly dropped her gaze before turning to her opponent. "You know, you did pretty well out there."

Kenji coughed into his hand to hide a blush and looked off to the side. "You know, you backed off today. You weren't as vicious as usual."

"Yeah, I felt you deserved a chance," Suzu mumbled before straightening and adopting a defiant look. "B-but I didn't do it for your sake or anything! I-I just wanted more of a challenge."

Kenji turned his gaze fully towards the girl with a glare. "Well yeah! Good! I don't want your help anyway! Bitch."

"Pfft. Like I'd help you anyway. Pig."

The two shared a heavy silence before Suzu turned to leave. "So, uhh, same time tomorrow?" 'I hope.'

Kenji watched the taller girl go. "Someone needs to prove you wrong. I wouldn't miss it for the world."