Tyler+G’s+Final+AmEx+2014+Speech

=Title of Speech=
 * Being Open Minded**

=Text of Speech= I feel fortunate to be able to have a group of peers so intelligent, diverse, and opinionated as our AmEx class. I am also lucky enough to call you all my friends, and I would hope that you consider me a friend as well, but after reading some of the blogs throughout the year I have found myself questioning the validity of interactions with some of my peers. I was honestly a little shocked at the ruthlessness of some posts, but the shock quickly receded, and I felt disappointment in its place. As opposed to stating opinions and supporting them factually, anecdotally or otherwise I was sad to find many of the blogs quickly devolving into a contest of pointing fingers and calling names. It would be wrong to assume that this problem is the result of "AP kid" elitism, because I have seen it come from every demographic. When such passionate opinions are expressed in this way it only weakens the point, and when both sides of an argument refuse to acknowledge each others points, there will never be a true resolution. Which is why I would like to grow up in an America far more open minded.

And when I say open minded, don't assume that I mean you have to throw your opinions out the window, for your opinions are your own for a reason, all I ask is that people acknowledge the fact that the opinion opposite to yours is likely the result of an equally valid reason. Not only does fully understanding a viewpoint opposite of your own help to debate against it, but also, you might just find something good about it.

In the America that I want to grow old in, I want people to hear people say "good point" or "I see where you're coming from" or "you're right" instead of plugging their ears and reiterating just how wrong anyone else is, which seems to be the rule of thumb for far too many people. One thing that not enough people realize is that no matter how 100% right their opinion is in their head, the person on the other side is equally convinced that they are the correct ones. As put by Anno Hideaki "The truths are as many as people. But there's only one truth that you have, which is formed by a narrowed view of the world. Formed by revised information... the twisted truth... Your truth can be changed simply by the way you accept it. That's how fragile the truth is." Don't be afraid to change your truth. Don't let preconceived prejudice get in the way of hearing everyone around you.

In the America that I want to grow old in, I want people to feel comfortable to speak their opinion face to face without needing the buffer of the internet to protect them. I don't like the fact that through the AmEx blogs is the first time I got to hear a real opinion this year. It is clear that the built up frustrations in students is resulting in them taking to the internet where they can vent without confrontation. The refusal to accept opinions and as a result the refusal to speak them is becoming a vicious cycle. The nice thing is, the effort needed to make this change is pretty manageable. All we have to do, is look deep within ourselves, our opinions, our hates, our desires and add a little asterisk at the bottom of all that, that reads: "subject to change" Once you have made that decision for yourself, the rest should come easily.

=Cite Your Sources= Anno Hideaki (Neon Genesis Evangelion) http://plaza.harmonix.ne.jp/~onizuka/literal/EVA26.txt