April 18, 2016
Scribe Staff
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“Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.” – Malcolm Forbes
“It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” – Aristotle
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
In the United States, we often celebrate our differences. It is one of the things that make our country great, allowing a difference of opinion that strengthens the critical thinking in our citizens.
But it seems that anymore, we are on the lookout for differences and offensive things.
Instead of searching for common ground among our differences, we seek out what we don’t agree with and why we should take it as a personal attack.
All the information in-take we do on a daily basis has taught us what should and shouldn’t offend us. We waste a lot of time getting defensive about what we’re told to be offended by when we should be using other opinions and viewpoints to find common ground.
We don’t go to college to meet people we agree with on every issue. In continuing our education, we should want to expand your knowledge on topics that make us uncomfortable.
It’s OK to disagree with each other, but also be open to hear or learn about a stance that’s different than your own.
Everyone was raised differently and because of this they will believe they’re right. If everything you were raised to believe and learn is the absolute truth, then no one else can possibly be right.
College classes exist to give us an education, but not just from weekly readings in a required text book. We are in classes with hundreds of different students each semester to hear other thoughts and ideas, even if you don’t initially agree with it.
And in the end, there’s still a lot for us to learn.
At least try to understand why another person feels and thinks the way they do. We will have a better understanding of reality and our future.