Last night saw the College Historical Society (the Hist) and TCD French Society come together to present a debate with an interesting twist on the usual discourse that we have become so accustomed to in Trinity – this particular debate was conducted entirely through French. Held in the Hist’s Conversation Room in the GMB, the many portraits of past members that line the walls were joined by a print of Renoir’s Dance at Bougival, an apt reference to the evening’s collaboration. With bunting shrouding the windows, the first night of Fourth Week seemed appropriately festive.
The motion for the debate stood as “Is France a tolerable country?”, a particularly controversial topic in recent years, with proposition from Caoimhe Devaney, Nina Kasparian, Alexis Kaiser and Zoe Boles. Céline Thobois, Connie Lillis, Louise Joly and Sineád Harrington gave the opposition. The arguments that the proposition put forward included how we should focus on the freedom seen in France today, not in the past nor in the future. The mantra of “liberté, égalité, fraternité” is not an aesthetic, they argued, but instead highly applicable. The resilience of France to remain tolerant and democratic even after the atrocities it has experienced in recent times is evidence for this, they argued, emphasising how France is defined by its citizens, not its institutions. The separation of church and state was lauded as a win for tolerance in France, also. Defining tolerance proved to be a point of clash, with much discussion on what really constitutes a tolerant nation. While decorum was kept throughout this debate, there were many back-and-forths at this point of the evening, causing a release of laughter in this erudite discussion.
The opposition argued that political discourse in France showed how intolerant the nation had become, with Islamophobia and sexism being mentioned as faults. The legislation of the French Republic was heavily referenced, arguing that a “certain form of intolerance” is enforced. The opposition centred on the experience of one woman, illustrating how vulnerable and afraid one can feel when out alone. This, it was argued, was proof of intolerance in France today.
After a tally from the crowd, the motion was carried, and the best speaker of the evening was named: a very impassioned and convincing orator, Celine Thobois. With the formalities of the debate concluded, the audience appeared grateful to the speakers for providing such stimulating and thought-provoking speeches.
