Open and Closed Minds

I remember one of my first conversations with Dr Bashir as this:-

Bashir: You know, some people say that you remained on Deep Space Nine as the eyes and ears of your fellow Cardassians.
Garak (astonished): You don't say! Doctor, you're not intimating that I'm some sort of spy, are you?
Bashir: I wouldn't know, sir.
Garak: Ah. An open mind. The essence of intellect.

Now who else would I consider on the station has an open mind? Commander Sisko has shown a remarkable ability to navigate through some quite difficult situations and has been open minded in many of them. He has been open minded with many of the more pemananent and dubious residents on the station. How much of the federation leadership would have tolerated Quark (a shady history from any angle) to remain on the station? Or for that matter myself? Sisko did.

Now consider Jadzia Dax. Seven life times of experience and no sign of pessimism yet. She enjoys an open minded life much of the time in her current host. Playing Tongo deep into the night with those loathsome ferengi is not a common interest amongst humanoids - that if anything shows open mindedness.

I have observed Quark and other ferengi operating according to the 'Rules of Aquisition'. So far he has survived but not especially prospered. I can't help but deliberate that if he operated outside these rules at times; the latinum laced rewards would be more forthcoming. His brother Rom is more intriguing. At first you might see a downtrodden and subserviant employee of Quarks. But at second observation there is a certain determination and tenacity shown under duress . He has hope for a more rewarding future; and that hope is not tinged in the same way of desparation shown so openly by Quark. Rom wins against Quark in open mindedness.

Chief O'Brian I have had little communication with so far. Perhaps because his experence of Cardassians to date has been in unsettling circumstances. The battle of Setlik 3 for instance. The chief seems closed on his views about my race. But his technical ingenuity and determination have rescued and rebuilt this station a number of times already. I have a certain admiration for that. Cardassian technology does not interface well with it's federation counterparts.

Major Kira - well my study of her mind could take volumes of fascinating discertation. Certainly an asset to commander Sisko in the rebuilding and running of this station. Her strength of will and passion is refreshing and represents a suprising element found in many of the of the Bajoran people - certainly underestimated by the former Cardassian prefect of the station - Gul Dukat.
Is the major open minded? In one sense she is progressive in listening to the idea that Bajor could become a Federation member. On the other hand her faith in the Prophets and her religious texts have at times been binding on some occasions but enlightening on others. A little more flexibility on her faith might have her being objective rather than subjective in her command decisions. On balance she has open mindedness but there is some ongoing internal struggle between practical decision making and deference to her faith. More on this in future log enteries I think.