Keep An Open Mind… And Mouth

If you believe the calendar writers, then yesterday was May 19, a date that appears on my birth certificate. Unlike the old geezers who ran gas stations and automobile repair shops in the New York City of my youth, I use calendars to pin down correct dates for things, not to fantasize about incorrect dates with pinups.

The Talmud teaches (in Mishnayos Kinim 2:6): ‘Elderly unintellectual people, as they age, their minds erode on them, as it is written [Job Ch. 12:20] “He removes speech even from the loyal, and the reason of the elderly he will take”, but knowledgeable scholars are not this way. As they age, their mind becomes more reasonable, as it is written [Job Ch. 12:12] “In the elderly there is wisdom, and understanding comes with length of days”.

Yes, speaking with you folks keeps me thinking, and thinking keeps me young. It is critical to use one’s mind on a regular basis. Think deeply, read widely, read critically and your mind will remain a discerning one, even mellowing and broadening over time.

Sadly, there is a strong temptation in our time not to think too much because so many awful things are going on, and so many awful people are happy to shoot down anyone who is not conforming with the party line. To avoid this, people line up at parties and keep drinking, lest their mouths go into the export business and get them into trouble.

But if we allow fear to silence us, we may indeed exorcise some ill-conceived speech, but we are in danger of losing the ability to communicate. Meeting people, getting to know them, sharing ideas and engendering business deals of all kinds are all contingent on speech. We have to learn to be friendly, to speak and to listen, to follow open mouths with open ears.

Yes, there is one place not to be verbal, which is not to use gossip as currency in socializing. No disgorging material that entered through open ears by passing it back out through open mouths. That’s in the Bible, too.

We have to learn again how to speak with each other and how to listen to each other. And most particularly, we have to praise people for their accomplishments, not only as a Dale Carnegie strategy to benefit ourselves but as a genuine project to encourage others to heights of expression.

Sure, once people pass 60, there is an expectation that they become more garrulous, and you have to keep a handle on that ramble. Yet the most beautiful project for a person of advancing years is to encourage the youth. They may offend occasionally by acting snarky to oldsters, but the plan is not to avoid them. Behind their bluster is a need for approval, and when they deserve it, we should not withhold it.

The late great Ronald Reagan was no youngster during his Presidency and liked to joke that he knew Abe Lincoln personally. He also said, “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat!” We may be losing elasticity, but we still have electricity.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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