![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.achteminute.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/09\/manschettenkn\u00f6pfe-budelmann.jpg\" "\\"DDG-Manschettenkn\u00f6pfe\\"")
<\/a>Die neu eingef\u00fchrten Manschettenkn\u00f6pfe mit DDG-Vereinsabzeichen. Daneben gibt es auch Pins f\u00fcrs Revers und Magnetpins. (Foto: Oliver H\u00f6rtensteiner)<\/p><\/div><\/p>\n
All DDG members are allowed to compete, all others are invited to come and judge. The tournament has become famous for being an entertaining and laid back event \u2013 probably its main reason for never short of participants. This time 35 speakers and 20 judges have come from all over Germany, the youngest are almost 20, the oldest way past their thirties. The Masters\u2019 Cup has become an occasion to witness remarkable battles: Former team partners become opponents, old adversaries ally with each other, sometimes old team mates are reunited: It\u2019s all a matter of destiny as for each round new team constellation are drawn. As Marcus Ewald<\/strong> and Torsten R\u00f6ssing, <\/strong>German National Champions of 2008, <\/strong>are forced to speak against each other, Lukas Haffert <\/strong>and Sebastian Berg<\/strong>, winners of the ZEIT DEBATTE in G\u00f6ttingen, 2008 team up again to fight a randomly drawn opposition.<\/p>\n The judges \u2013 used to tight schedules and more complex debating formats from the ZEIT DEBATTEN series \u2013 are grateful for this rather special style the Masters\u2019 Cup uses. Its rules fit onto a single page; its amusing debates don\u2019t last longer than 28 minutes and feature performances of former and current top debaters. That\u2019s also the reason why not all DDG members take up the opportunity to speak. A 25-year-old, who came to judge, admits: \u201cI rather enjoy the debates from a judging perspective then being ripped apart rhetorically by those competing debating stars.\u201d Hannes Budelmann, DDG-Vorstandsmitglied seit 2007, nimmt seinen Hut. (Foto: Oliver H\u00f6rtensteiner)<\/p><\/div> But it\u2019s not fame and glory that brings speakers to Eisenach \u2013 it\u2019s the opportunity to meet and catch up. And to take a look at the new DDG emblem, which is now available on pins, magnet pins and cuff links. The evening activities at \u2013 by now\u00a0 traditional \u2013 locations offer the opportunity to chat. After Friday evening\u2019s round one (This house would found a party right of the Christian Democrats) the crowd crawls to the city\u2019s Irish Pub. While the 60 participants are observed by the locals, their full attention is occupied with the association\u2019s newly designed annual look book, which is distributed by outgoing president Hannes Budelmann<\/strong>. The book is larger than in previous years \u2013 a direct consequence of the new bachelor degrees, which allows more under 25s to join the DDG. (If you hold a university degree you can enter under the age of 25). At the same time the DDG matures. More weddings, more pregnancies, more job changes are announced. Those not able to join the party at least gave notice of their current status through the year book. Jan L\u00fcken haut in die Tasten. (Foto: Oliver H\u00f6rtensteiner)<\/p><\/div> Day two traditionally starts out early \u2013 also because the hostel has no mercy when it comes to breakfast time. Rather surprisingly the eve\u2019s Guinness has not stopped the debaters from showing up quite on time. Early birds are welcomed with life music: VDCH-president Jan L\u00fcken<\/strong> sits at the piano and impresses his audience.<\/p>\n The following prelims featured debates on the reimplementation of pillories and the question of whether \u201cThis house should go offline\u201d. \u00a0The semifinal motion was \u201cThis house would allow general strikes\u201d \u2013 so far forbidden in Germany. While the proposition argued that general strikes improved the level of political participation and would give workers a strong tool to fight for their political goals, the opposition stated that general strikes were undemocratic as it gave more voting power to those working and was nothing short of blackmailing the political system.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next? The weekend\u2019s official highlight: The final evening on the Wartburg, the castle on which Martin Luther was kept in exile and translated the bible. After a tasty buffet the final starts: Sebastian Berg and Patrick Ehmann<\/strong> form the proposition on the motion that \u201cThis house would convene the Loveparade 2011\u201d. On opposition are Lukas Haffert and Jens Fischer<\/strong>, arguing that individual grief is not possible if the event is brought back to life. Eventually Jens Fischer wins \u2013 he is the Master of Masters 2010! Well deserved, one could argue, as it\u2019s been his fourth participation in a final in a row.<\/p>\n The official highlight was followed by the clandestine highlight: the party at Eisenach\u2019s very own nightclub \u201cThe Beach\u201d. Surrounded by artificial palm trees and fine sand the debaters conquered the dance floor, the very motivated ones even the podium. The local population seems astound, maybe for a reason: It remains amazing what \u201c90s music\u201d can do to thirty-something ex-debaters when they are left by themselves.<\/p>\n
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