[rwb]

people who think "keeping an open mind" is one of life's highest virtues. I respect people more who've thought deeply about various things and have opinions about them.

"Keeping an open mind" about something and having an opinion about it are not mutually exclusive, though you appear to believe so.

[ReveBM]

Maybe keeping an open mind and having an opinion are not mutually exclusive, but I think that in the way most people in American society use the term (as cliche) they are. For example, I think John Ashcroft has a pretty open mind.

[Sofa King]

In my experience, "keeping an open mind" seems to mean "beleive whatever I tell you and don't dare challenge my logic"