misinformation and scare tactics so they can eventually push through laws that will allow them to censor our books and internet and who knows what else. And obviously the scare tactics are already working if you’re ready to start burning books now.”
“ I'm not scared.” The muscles in Kyle's jaw knotted. “I just think everyone has the right to know who could use dangerous and weird new abilities on them at any second, especially when no metal detector or bomb squad dog can say who the threats are. We have a right to be able to protect and defend ourselves.”
Murmurs of agreement hummed throughout the room, making his scowl turn into a smirk of victory.
Spurred on by the sounds of agreement around him, Kyle added, “Think about it. Anyone around us could secretly be one of these freaks, capable of blowing us up or who knows what else at any second. Why would anyone in their right minds want to have to deal with the possibility of being around someone literally going nuclear just because they missed the latest shoe sale, or some chick's PMSing, or they walk in on their husband cheating on them with some other woman? I say we get rid of the problem instead. We should do whatever it takes to make everyone else safe again. Let’s go a step further. Instead of burning the magic books, let’s leave them out there as bait then throw anyone who reads them into prison. Or hey, better still, let’s study these Clann members, figure out a way to stop their abilities and develop a blood test or something that we can give to everyone to find out who has these abilities in the first place. Then we wouldn’t even need to bait them into coming out of hiding because we could just test their blood!”
A groan escaped me, despite my best efforts to hold it in. I twisted in my seat so I could look directly at Kyle without getting a crick in my neck. “This is so ridiculous. You're saying everyone should ignore the possibilities for human evolution, even purposefully stop that evolution, just because humans can't be trusted to learn how to control themselves? That's like saying all guns should be destroyed because some idiots out there use them for bad instead of good.”
Rumbles of murmurs around the room as that particular argument hit a nerve, just as I'd expected. Not too many southerners wanted to hear about gun control. They needed to understand that locking up descendants and outcasts from the Clann who might or might not be dangerous was the exact same thing.
I shook my head. “History’s full of people who were afraid of new technologies or abilities they couldn’t understand, so they called it dark magic and started burning people at the stake. But we should be smarter as a species by now. Why not give these outcasts the chance to learn how to develop control over their abilities and use them to improve all our lives instead?”
“ Or—” Mr. Sherman began.
“ Or we could just do exactly like we're already doing,” Kyle said. “Get rid of the problem.”
“ By banning books about magic and throwing anyone who's different into prison ?” I said, beyond all hope of keeping my voice calm at this point as the blood rushed to my head and made my eardrums feel like they were going to explode. He was talking about our fellow students, our neighbors and friends, people like Aimee .
How in the world could Hayden be friends with idiots like this? Kyle was beyond narrow minded, beyond anything I'd ever seen. And I'd thought my mother was inflexible. At least she wanted to help the 'delusional' Clann members and outcasts with psychotherapy, not kill them!
Mr. Sherman raised his hands palms out. “Okay, guys, let's take this down a notch. Of course we're going to be a little nervous now with all this terrorist talk. But what about the positives? I think Tarah’s on to something here. What if these Clann people did have magical abilities that could be used for good, such as healing cancer, or controlling the rain
“ I'm not scared.” The muscles in Kyle's jaw knotted. “I just think everyone has the right to know who could use dangerous and weird new abilities on them at any second, especially when no metal detector or bomb squad dog can say who the threats are. We have a right to be able to protect and defend ourselves.”
Murmurs of agreement hummed throughout the room, making his scowl turn into a smirk of victory.
Spurred on by the sounds of agreement around him, Kyle added, “Think about it. Anyone around us could secretly be one of these freaks, capable of blowing us up or who knows what else at any second. Why would anyone in their right minds want to have to deal with the possibility of being around someone literally going nuclear just because they missed the latest shoe sale, or some chick's PMSing, or they walk in on their husband cheating on them with some other woman? I say we get rid of the problem instead. We should do whatever it takes to make everyone else safe again. Let’s go a step further. Instead of burning the magic books, let’s leave them out there as bait then throw anyone who reads them into prison. Or hey, better still, let’s study these Clann members, figure out a way to stop their abilities and develop a blood test or something that we can give to everyone to find out who has these abilities in the first place. Then we wouldn’t even need to bait them into coming out of hiding because we could just test their blood!”
A groan escaped me, despite my best efforts to hold it in. I twisted in my seat so I could look directly at Kyle without getting a crick in my neck. “This is so ridiculous. You're saying everyone should ignore the possibilities for human evolution, even purposefully stop that evolution, just because humans can't be trusted to learn how to control themselves? That's like saying all guns should be destroyed because some idiots out there use them for bad instead of good.”
Rumbles of murmurs around the room as that particular argument hit a nerve, just as I'd expected. Not too many southerners wanted to hear about gun control. They needed to understand that locking up descendants and outcasts from the Clann who might or might not be dangerous was the exact same thing.
I shook my head. “History’s full of people who were afraid of new technologies or abilities they couldn’t understand, so they called it dark magic and started burning people at the stake. But we should be smarter as a species by now. Why not give these outcasts the chance to learn how to develop control over their abilities and use them to improve all our lives instead?”
“ Or—” Mr. Sherman began.
“ Or we could just do exactly like we're already doing,” Kyle said. “Get rid of the problem.”
“ By banning books about magic and throwing anyone who's different into prison ?” I said, beyond all hope of keeping my voice calm at this point as the blood rushed to my head and made my eardrums feel like they were going to explode. He was talking about our fellow students, our neighbors and friends, people like Aimee .
How in the world could Hayden be friends with idiots like this? Kyle was beyond narrow minded, beyond anything I'd ever seen. And I'd thought my mother was inflexible. At least she wanted to help the 'delusional' Clann members and outcasts with psychotherapy, not kill them!
Mr. Sherman raised his hands palms out. “Okay, guys, let's take this down a notch. Of course we're going to be a little nervous now with all this terrorist talk. But what about the positives? I think Tarah’s on to something here. What if these Clann people did have magical abilities that could be used for good, such as healing cancer, or controlling the rain
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