Essential Question:How does creationism and Darwin's Theory effect a society in this day in age?
"Are you a man or a monkey?/ Amend the consitution-Prohibit Darwin/Save our schools from sin/My ancestors aint' Apes!" (18).
Evolution was proposed by Charles Darwin, and it was a very disbelieved theory at the time.
"Can someone tell me-Is this fellow Standing a criminal by Nature?"(24).
“People look at me as if I was a murderer"(50).
Chris Standing (Bertrem Cates) is a teacher who teaches the theory of revolution, in a very religous town of Daytona Tennessee, is prosectued and put on trial.
"Buy a Bible! Your guidebook to eternal life!" (14).
The courtroom is where Standing ends up being tried for teaching evolution and darwin's theory, people do not believe that anything not in the bible cannot be taught.
"The individual human mind. In a child's power is to master the multiplication table there is more sancitity than in all your shouted "Amens!", "Holy, Holies!"(93).
"The language of the law is clear; we do not need the excerpts to question the validity of a law that is already on the books" (83).
The Judge of the case is Judge Joe Callahan and he is very strict on following the law, he believes that man must not break "the law".
"A thinking man! And he is threatened with fine and imprisonment because he chooses to speak what he thinks" (72).
Wallace defends Standing with great perserverance and states his opinions clearly.
"I want a fair trial!"(47).
The opposing lawyer of the case is Barry Frank. He is very stuck on his religion and believes that their is no alternate, and wants Standing to be prosecuted to full extent.
"I say that these Bible-haters, these 'Evil-utionists,' are brewers of poison" (70).
Barry Frank is a very religious lawyer and considers anyone "non religous" to be an unethical person.
"Well, I sure am glad Colonel Frank didn't make a speech!" (70).
In this infamous court case, Wallace insults Frank through sarcasm, because of his view on the case.
"I am trying to establish, Your honor, that Howard-or Colonel Frank-or Charles Darwin-or anyone in this courtroom-or you, sir-has the right to think!" (71).
Frank makes very valid points in the courtroom, and is making the judges mind through his thoughtfull and justified points.
"The court will support you if you wish to decline to testify-as a witness against your own case...."(84).
Judge Callahan is very oldschool and follows the court rules with great respect.
"I shall not testify against anything. I shall speak out,as I have all my life-on behalf of the Living Truth of the Holy Scriptures!"(85).
Again, religion is displayed as a part of life in which these people could not function without.
"So you, Barry Frank...pass along God's orders to the rest of the world!"(99).
Wallace mimicks Frank and slowly dismantles him in front of the large audience.
Frank-" The Lord is my strength-"(101).
RELIGION!
"Do you think they'll send me to prison?"(108).
this is a very uncommon case, and noone truely knows the outcome of it.
What will happen in the biggest court trial of 2010?
