Unlike Alex, Brady, Shivani, and Karen, I feel that the “right to think” comes up at least weekly in our everyday life. More importantly, I am constantly struck at how as students, that right is strongly restricted. Perhaps I should clarify. Take for instance the idea that football is stupid. If a student were to actually admit that this was the way they felt, they would find varied responses, although many of them are negative. Perhaps I am a little biased on that particular subject though.

Also, going through school, I have been struck with how closed minded people can be. You are well within your rights to think that atheists are godless heathens (I don’t, my brother is one and I have no problem with that). However, are you within your rights to say that? Would that not be the equivalent of saying you hated Catholics, Protestants, or Jews? Like Alex, I feel that several parallels can be drawn between Inherit the Wind and Fahrenheit 451˚. For example, in both stories people face social and governmental issues after speaking or acting in a way that is not considered the social norm.

What I believe the story comes down to is the difference between the right to think-and think- versus the right of people to be respected. This can still be seen in the news today. In Gainesville, Florida, a preacher threatened to burn copies of the Qur’an. No matter which side of the issue you are on, the question isn’t whether the preacher had the right to burn the book, but rather if the people of Islam have the right to be respected. Because of the controversial aspects of this question, there is no current answer. But here’s something to think about: When you look at the impact that the trail had on Dayton, Tennessee (Hillsborough) and the people there, was prosecuting-or persecuting- John Scopes (Bert Cates) worth it?

-Lizzy Jamnik