In my undergraduate year, I took a course with my liberal-minded friend. Our assignment for the tutorial group was to hold a debate on the legalization of marijuana. I can’t even remember what the course name was anymore and why we were debating marijuana when my degree was in the stream of Ecology and Evolution.
Of course, my liberal-minded friend and I decided to group together since we had taken a few courses together already and we knew both of us were good at public speaking. And since my friend was liberal-minded, he was inarguably arguing for the legalization of marijuana.
But we needed a third group member.
Our third group member was a girl, as vocal as my liberal-minded friend and as strong in mind… but in opposition.
She didn’t want to argue against her own personal beliefs. “I am personally against drugs,” she said adamantly. And what a sight it was, this strong vocal girl pitted against my liberal-minded friend, a conflict between her morals and my liberal-minded friend’s liberalness.
In the end she had no choice but to stand with us… reluctantly… in the debate on the side for legalization… all against her own personal beliefs. Then the research started and with each group meeting new ideas formed, new points of views studied.
And like “Like Lilly Like Wilson”, her mind changed until even she couldn’t believe that she could ever be advocating for marijuana and going as far as to believe in what she’s saying. Especially on a topic she was initially reluctant to speak for against her own initial beliefs.
We may not be able to influence the way other people think and it’s not about changing the way other people think; but rather, how we should take the time to understand different sides and start by changing the way we think.
Like Lilly Like Wilson
http://www.youtube.com/wat
By Taylor Mali
I'm writing the poem that will change the world,
and it's Lilly Wilson at my office door.
Lilly Wilson, the recovering like addict,
the worst I've ever seen.
So, like, bad the whole eighth grade
started calling her Like Lilly Like Wilson Like.
Until I declared my classroom a Like-Free Zone,
and she could not speak for days.
But when she finally did, it was to say,
Mr. Mali, this is . . . so hard.
Now I have to think before I . . . say anything.
Imagine that, Lilly.
It's for your own good.
Even if you don't like . . .
it.
I'm writing the poem that will change the world,
and it's Lilly Wilson at my office door.
Lilly is writing a research paper for me
about how homosexuals shouldn't be allowed
to adopt children.
I'm writing the poem that will change the world,
and it's Like Lilly Like Wilson at my office door.
She's having trouble finding sources,
which is to say, ones that back her up.
They all argue in favor of what I thought I was against.
And it took four years of college,
three years of graduate school,
and every incidental teaching experience I have ever had
to let out only,
Well, that's a real interesting problem, Lilly.
But what do you propose to do about it?
That's what I want to know.
And the eighth-grade mind is a beautiful thing;
Like a new-born baby's face, you can often see it
change before your very eyes.
I can't believe I'm saying this, Mr. Mali,
but I think I'd like to switch sides.
And I want to tell her to do more than just believe it,
but to enjoy it!
That changing your mind is one of the best ways
of finding out whether or not you still have one.
Or even that minds are like parachutes,
that it doesn't matter what you pack
them with so long as they open
at the right time.
O God, Lilly, I want to say
you make me feel like a teacher,
and who could ask to feel more than that?
I want to say all this but manage only,
Lilly, I am like so impressed with you!
So I finally taught somebody something,
namely, how to change her mind.
And learned in the process that if I ever change the world
it's going to be one eighth grader at a time.
