Bermuda's finest young debaters did battle last week when they argued the finer points about what makes a good neighbour.

The Bermuda Debate Society's Heritage Month Debate held at the Berkeley Institute featured members of its World Schools Debating Team.

The teenagers debated the topic "This House believes that Good Fences make Good Neighbours'' with forceful points on all sides before the negative side won.

Ruth O'Kelly-Lynch, Ryan Marshall, and Kalilah Robinson challenged the affirmative side by taking a page from the Ministry of Government and Community Services' theme for Heritage Month, "Unity through Diversity''. The Ministry was the sponsor of the event.

They taunted the affirmative side: "Without fences there would be unity through diversity.'' The affirmative side, represented by David Tavares, Ian Ostroff-Striffler, and Trevor Leitch, countered with an argument based around the right of the individual to not be involved in contact with others. The debate was introduced by executive member Terry Lister and watched by Minister for Community Services Yvette Swan and other members of Parliament and dignitaries.

The audience voted on the outcome of the closely fought contest. The participants will represent Bermuda in the next international schools championship.

The students used several examples, pro and con, from current affairs including South Africa, Israel and Palestine, and Northern Ireland.

The debaters also touched on the civil rights movement and desegregation in this part of the world as a prime example of tearing down fences and allowing for multiculturalism.

However, the affirmative side -- who unnecessarily took great pains to say they were not racist, sexist, or even ageist -- said the individual should be allowed to "mix'' if they desired.

There was loud laughter all-round when Trevor Leitch suggested there were two things that are certain: "Bermuda will come ninth yet again in the World Debate Championships and somebody will not like you.''