Have We Lost the Art of Democratic Debate?

We currently reside in a society where unity and harmony is considered to be the primary key to societal evolution. But I daresay that efforts in unity and harmony are futile in the road to progress when if satisfying these two principles make for the sacrificing of healthy debate and discourse. We all have contrasting world-views, which inevitably results in contrasting ideas. Conflict will always be inevitable, does that mean that we are doomed to not be united as a people? I don't think so. It is important that we share our moral and political convictions and organize our conflict in healthy and proper discourse. Perspectives and ideas are the foundations of social change and we must be at the forefront of heralding the endangered practice of rational debate and argument.