The Dangers of Being Close-Minded

The Dangers of being Close-Minded

Society has different ideas of what an educated person is. When that phrase comes to mind, many people, including myself, before I did my research, picture a person who has successfully been through a traditional education system, like graduating high school, entering college, eventually earning some type of degree, and later obtaining a prosperous career. Yet, when that definition really sinks in, I realize how narrow-minded it really is. In reality, that social definition barely touches the characteristics of what an educated person is. Plato, a praised Greek philosopher, who believed that society needed an education, assured the public that, "Education isn't what some declare it to be, namely, putting knowledge into souls that lack it, like putting sight into blind eyes" (5). He is trying to say that there isn't a certain spot where people should look. Information is received like sight is seen or received by the eye. Wherever the eyes should look or wants to look is not relevant. Being educated involves so much more than just conventional schooling. It demands experience beyond the classroom, worldly based knowledge, the ability to analyze the world, effective communication skills, and an understanding of other people's opinions aside from one's own -- or in other words, being open-minded. Education incorporates learning and people are constantly learning, therefore being educated is a never-ending process. One cannot assume that an educated person is fully educated when they have completed their schooling or earned their degree. On our quest to becoming an educated person, it is extremely dangerous to be close-minded because it interferes with a person's learning and growth as a well-rounded person.

Einstein once said, "Somebody who only reads newspapers and at best books of contemporary authors looks to me like an extremely near-sighted person who scorns eyeglasses" (Quote by Albert Einstein). Einstein explains that a person who is capable of learning about an experience is like someone who finds it pointless or worthless to experience it themselves. A close-minded person can converse on a current issue with someone else who is presenting a new idea that is very different from the close-minded person's beliefs. The close-minded person will most likely not listen or acknowledge the other person's point of view because his or her ideas are already ingrained in their mind. They may never acknowledge and fully listen to the other person's ideas. They are to some extent incapable of ever understanding new concepts and opinions. It is so easy to see that being close-minded has the ability to transform a person into becoming uneducated.

A mind that is closed is dangerous. If it is opened, it is free. Such current events can be better understood when considered through our readings by theoretical physicist, David Bohm. He clearly explains a universal fact: everyone has different assumptions or opinions. They embrace our individuality, our ideas, and values. However, people's egotistical assumptions dominate them and block them from accepting and learning other truths. For example, beginning on January 25, 2011, rioters began to swarm the streets of Egypt protesting the downfall of the economy. There was an escalating rise in the levels of unemployment and government oppression, and Egyptians also wanted corruption of police repression to be put to an end. But their main reason for all this commotion was to overthrow their President of almost 30 reigning years, Hosni Mubarak (Key dates in Mubarak's 29-year rule). These rallies rapidly transformed to violent demonstrations that lead to innocent deaths, policemen injured, and thousands of protesters. During the riots, the government also prevented cell phone communication and Internet use from its citizens because they wanted them to shy away from posting details on popular websites of what was currently happening on the streets. Coincidentally, Cairo, was given the title - a war zone. It became a war zone because the government silenced its people's voices. A close-minded person is resistant to change and may ultimately live a life of unhappiness or dissatisfaction; which exactly explains Mubarak's behavior. Bohm's ideas reveal the truth of former President Mubarak. He placed his country in danger because of his arrogance and lack of consideration that stemmed from his close-mindedness. Because he was so narrow-minded about the troubles facing fellow Egyptians, he caused uproar