These lines said in class by the lead character, Professor George Falconer, affected me deeply (as they did the young student, Kenny, who decides to befriend him):
The Nazis were obviously
wrong to hate the Jews. But their
hating the Jews was not without a
cause... But the cause wasnʼt real.
The cause was imagined. The cause
was FEAR.
Curious stares.
GEORGE (CONTʼD)
Letʼs leave the Jews out of this
for a moment and think of another
minority. One that can go unnoticed
if it needs to.
George looks directly at WALTER, a slightly effeminate young
man, who turns away embarrassed.
GEORGE (CONTʼD)
There are all sorts of minorities,
blondes for example, but a minority
is only thought of as one when it
constitutes some kind of threat to
the majority. A real threat or an
imagined one. And therein lies the
FEAR. And, if the minority is
somehow invisible...
Another glance at Walter.
GEORGE (CONTʼD)
...the fear is even greater.
Kenny tries to find the target of Georgeʼs glance, but to no
avail.
GEORGE (CONTʼD)
And this FEAR is the reason the
minority is persecuted. So, there
always is a cause. And the cause is
FEAR. Minorities are just people.
People...
Again a subtle look at Walter.
GEORGE (CONTʼD)
...like us.
