The general argument/point made by Anna Quindlen in her work Life of the Closed Mind is that America
has become a country that sets its young people the terrible example of closed
minds and that, that needs to change. More specifically Quindlen
argues/suggests that we think about the world as good or evil when a statement
like that shies away from rigorous intellectual engagement. She writes, “Is
that true? Maybe there’s something to what she just said. Let me think about
it. That’s interesting. Maybe I should change my mind. I changed my mind” (pg.
67) which are all questions we should be engaging in when making a
decision/opinion about something. In this passage, Quindlen is suggesting that
our nation makes decisions based on statements made that are not backed up by
any evidence and that statements need to be questioned. In conclusion, it is
Quindlens belief that our country in close minded and that because of that we
cannot tell the difference between enemies and opponents, heresy and
disagreement, or even between discussion and destruction.
In my view,
Quindlen is right because I have seen more than a couple of times people
believe a statement that was said only for the reason that it was said. For
example, at my high school rumors and gossip are spread around the school every
day. The only reason they spread is because people believe them and I can
guarantee that at least 50% of rumors spread are not true, but are believed to
be true because people are trained to automatically assume that the person who
said it is correct. Although Quindlen may object me saying that not our whole
nation is closed minded, I maintain that even though the example of being
closed minded is set before us that many do have open minds and critically
think before forming an opinion. Therefore, I conclude that Quindlen is correct
when she argues that intellectual engagement is needed when making decisions or
forming opinions, but that she is wrong in believing that our whole nation is closed
minded. 
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