Advice on the "This I Believe" Short Essay

A student wrote with the following concern about the "This I Belive" essay.  I think my response to this student may help a number of students better understand the role played by discussion in critical thinking, reading, and writing; so, I wanted to share the exchange with the class as a whole:

From the student:

"I've completed all the reading and I've been thinking really hard on this. I looked at the This I Believe link you gave us, and that was great, but I'm having trouble with this whole thing in general. I'm not exactly sure what I believe. What I do believe could possibly be considered offending which I don't want to do. I want to be respectful while being honest and I have no idea where to even begin." 

My Response (somewhat edited and revised):

I can't help you figure out what you believe.  This is part of the process of growing into a citizen and an adult, and no one in our society has the right to dictate beliefs to others.  Discussion, on the other hand, is different.  Without discussion and debate, we hurt others by depriving them of our insights.

People being offended by your stating and explaining a belief isn't the same as being disrespectful of their beliefs.  Taking offense at reasoned discussion is the act of disrespect, not sharing belief.  What Jefferson said in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom might help you gain some perspective.  He said, "Truth is great, and will prevail if left to herself, ...she is the proper and sufficient antagonist to error, and has nothing to fear from the conflict, unless by human interposition disarmed of her natural weapons free argument and debate, errors ceasing to be dangerous when it is permitted freely to contradict them."  Your stating a belief and explaining why you hold it is the epitome of respect for others.  We don't share beliefs with those about whom we don't care; we let them live in error.  By avoiding possible conflict, argument, and debate and by not stating what you believe to be true and explaining your reasoning, you remove the possibility of others learning from you and of your view of the world, and you remove all the help this might provide. In short, your accepting others as an audience for truth as you see it, establishes that you are willing to enter into a mutually respectful learning relationship.  

The key here is explanation rather than defense.  You are explaining why a belief is important to you and why you hold it.  You are comparing and contrasting it with those held by others as a means of clarifying your own belief and setting it in historical context.  

Establish your ethos carefully.  Maintain objectivity throughout, and be careful to maintain a tone of respect and exploration of your own belief.  If you do, you should be fine. You might want to look at the chapter from Writing Today on memoirs and note the advice Rick and Chuck give on establishing ethos through telling a personal story.    

Steve