Open-mindedness? What governs that?

During my college years many many years ago, it was trendy to be open-minded.

I believe most of us would like to think that we are open-minded.

What does that mean?
What are some of the characters that an open-minded person display?

Just made me think about this when I received a couple of very negative responses from my own family members who are supposed to be very highly educated during the recent Presidential Election.

I am beginning to think that perhaps the level of education does not correlate to the degree of open-mindedness.... Hmmm.... that's too bad.  Why spend a lot of money when a person is not even willing to debate opposing views?

Have we lost the art of rhetorics, debate.... communications?  Don't are schools stop teaching persuasive writings/speeches any more?  What is the point of education then?