Lauren+D’s+Final+AmEx+2013+Speech

=Title of Speech=

Open Minded America =Text of Speech=

You are wrong. Yes. You are wrong and I am right. Are you offended or defensive, even without being accused of anything? Why? The likely culprit is fear of being wrong combined with pride and confidence in one’s opinions. However in the end they are just that, opinions. When talking to people the way you grow and mature as a human being is to be aware of different opinions. This comes from understanding the different motivations behind thought and, ultimately, speech. Understanding is not exactly a common trait. Most people are confident that their opinion should not be questioned; that their beliefs are absolute. However, people are different, thus carry different experiences and yes, different opinions with them. The type of person that is reluctant to accept the different ideas from people is close minded. This is most often miss-characterized as stubborness. However stubbornness isn’t closing your ears and opening your mouth, but opening your ears, and disagreeing with the //opinion.// This requires internalizing and evaluating the opinion in question and deciding on whether or not you agree with the assertion based on things that you know, a.k.a. argument. There are three things you need in an argument: “Facts, logic, and an open mind, because if you can’t reassess your position, you can’t go far.” As those two Close-minded and ignorant behaviors are often found in YouTube comments, shaming the makers of the videos with such harsh insults as “you’re gay” “this was gay” and “DONT BE SUCH A RETARD HAVE SOME RESPECT” all caps and anonymous, separating them from the responsibility that they have for their words. Ignorance and close-mindedness unfortunately go hand in hand since refusing to accept new facts leads to an ignorant America. But here is the problem: fear. People are afraid to be wrong and lack the courage to learn from mistakes and get facts. People lack the courage to have a fair debate and admit fault in their arguments, but are quick to jab at others’ arguments and opinions. A study done by James Stimson, a political scientist, showed the presidential debates are a non-contributing factor to the elections saying “there is no case where we can trace a substantial shift to the debates.” Robert Erickson and Christopher Wlezien point out that except for carter, whoever was winning before the debates, won the election. Even though the presidential debates contribute new information, it never changes people’s minds. Hearing other people are does not mean you are involved, only watching. Talking over people won’t help either. When you listen to people you have to have the intent of actually involving yourself in the issue. When you talk over someone you are asserting that you ideas are far more important, which is impossible seeing as volume does not dictate the value of information. You can yell all you want, ears shut and mouth wide, that there were no Jews killed in ww2, but you will still be wrong. Pretending to listen while not putting your own opinions under the light is disrespectful. If the other person is going to put their opinion on the line for the sake of becoming a well rounded and more informed individual, then you are involved as well and have a responsibility to reciprocate. What that leads to is an America with a plethora of issues that are not solved. Abortion rights, gay rights, defense spending, jobs programs, health care will not be solved without open minded debate. What we have to have is a willingness to cooperate and get along, with an eye toward progress toward solving problems, not blind allegiance to a cause. It is important to have an open mind. Only with an open mind can you really understand why the world is the way it is. In the America I wish to hand over to my grandchildren, I wish to see an America that isn’t afraid to be wrong, to learn, to have flexible opinions, and grow. I am fully aware that I could be infuriating the lot of you with something that you do not agree with, but I am putting my opinion out there so I can be proved wrong and I can come back stronger.

=Cite Your Sources=

[]