AN: Another homework assginment. Just a little journal entry that I thought was appropriate for Jem. Please tell me what you think of it becasue I love hearing feedback. Thankies.
Diary Entry
Jem, Chapter 20, During Atticus' speech.
Atticus is down below us giving his closing statements. He is saying that it is a lie that all Negros are bad people. It's hard for me to understand someone's hate for a person based on their skin color. Scout was telling me the other day about her plan to introduce the Cunninghams to all the nice people at First Purchase to change their minds, but I told her it probably wouldn't work. Her ideas are sweet but I know that a few nice people can't change the minds of determined people. It's hard to explain things like that to her.
As for the trial, Atticus has done really well in gathering all of the evidence for Tom's case. The Ewells are horrible people. The way Mr. Ewell talked about Tom was hard to listen to. He was so disrespectful! And Mr. Tate was the person who brought some things together in the evidence, like Mayella being beat up on her right side. Scout didn't understand it so I had to quickly explain that a left handed person had to have beaten her up.
Atticus was brilliant when he had Mr. Ewell write out his name to show his handedness. I'm really proud to have such a smart father, even if the kids at school make fun of me behind their back because of it. Sometimes it's really hard to be with Scout and have to be the big brother even when I'm scared too. I feel like I'm obligated to be courageous for her, or explain things to her that she doesn't understand (which is a lot). Anyways, now Mr. Gilmer is giving his closing statements. I almost feel sorry for him, because Atticus is such a great speaker.
It's hard to follow up on something like that, let alone try to argue it. From what Atticus has taught me about law, this case seems pretty clear. There is so much evidence that clears Tom, the jury has to rule him innocent. Because eh is. Tom didn't do anything wrong. And the Ewells and Mr. Tate and Mr. Gilmer and the whole courtroom knows it. They just can't convict him. They can't.