Mutants and Politics

[Warren Worthington III]

(( OOC: Yes, I know, boring title. Deal with it. ))

Warren leans casually on the corner of his desk, waiting for the class to pass their papers forward. "Thanks, everyone… I’m looking forward to reading your predictions about the political fallout of last November’s mutant battle at Alcatraz." Which he is, actually, if only for their entertainment value.

Which isn’t entirely fair, he chastises himself silently: there are some remarkably astute minds in this room, several quite a bit smarter than he is. What they don’t have is the habit of thinking about themselves as a part of national and international politics, or experience with how politics works in the real world.

Of course, in the real world nobody wants “predictions” of the results of things three months after the fact, but he’d figured that having three months of actual data should help him work with his kids to weed out the more, um, imaginative responses. And if anyone actually has the initiative to analyze the actual results and project from there, more power to them!

"Now… next topic: mutant registration." He grins at the awkward shuffling. "Yes, I know… an uncomfortable subject. But it’s not going to go away… there are several bills making their way around the Hill on the subject as we speak. Nothing’s coming up for a vote any time soon, but I’d bet we’re no more than one mutant-caused, or ostensibly mutant-caused, catastrophe away from seeing it on the docket again."

"So!" He hops off his desk and walks out between the students’, a little bit like a game-show host walking into the audience. "Anybody want to tell the class why you’re in favor, or against?"

(( OOC: Open to anybody in Warren’s class (if you want to be, you are), or who is sitting in for whatever reason. ))

[Tobias Smith]

Tobias has always been slightly bitter in school. Now, he was more-so thanks to constant pain in his arm and leg thanks to that lovely little invasion not that long ago. He is sitting near the back, his arm in a splint, wearing a long sleeved, black T-shirt with a rather insulting message on the front not directed at any particular group, just people in general. Again, no eyeliner or any of that, but from his black jeans is the tell-tale black cord leading up to a pair of silent headphones resting around his neck. Beneath his shirt are rows of bandages around his ribs, and there is a cast covering his leg beneath his jeans.

He has an expression that says, "Why the hell did I sign up for this class? I'd rather shoot myself in the face than listen to pretty-boy ramble on about politics anymore." Tobias rolls his eyes when the question is asked, but figures, Meh...why not? None of these other fagots are going to talk...besides, lets see how gay-man reacts to my answer...

Tobias raises his hand slowly, still with an apathetic expression on his face. Naturally, it is the only hand he can possibly raise, but before he's called, seeing how his is the only hand up, he says,

"Against. I see where the guys in D.C. are coming from, wanting to know who can do what. Hell, Magneto totaled the Golden Gate Bridge, Ms. Monroe can blast down jets with whatever nature has, and I can stop time and fuck up any huge security system the government has. We're a giant security risk to them, but y'know what? We're people. I mean, sure, some of us look uh..." Tobias pauses and glances toward the other side of the room where some guy sits, his tail twitching, then at Warren and his wings, ".......freaky, but still, we have rights. We're all citizens of this damn country, so what gives them the right to register who we are, and what we do, like animals? Hell, I've thought this President was alot like Hitler even before I found my powers, and if this ever comes to the vote and passes...I'm fucking moving to Canada."

[Warren Worthington III]

Warren grins at Tobias’ answer, turns around, grabs a red whiteboard marker, writes “AGAINST” in big red letters on the left side. Underneath he writes “Smith.”

"OK, that’s a little incoherent, but it’s a start. ‘We’re citizens, what gives them the right?’" Behind him, he can sense several other students giving Tobias gestures of support; he turns around to address them and they stop hastily.

"OK, that’s one side heard from. Anyone want to speak out for the other?" He looks around for a beat, two, three, then makes a quick checkmark next to and adds "OK then… the Registration Act is voted down, 1 to nothing. Good work, Mr. Smith… you’ve just safeguarded the civil rights of your fellow mutants. For today, at least."

"Becket, Sanderson, Gibbs – I’m assuming from your covert support of Mr. Smith here that you share his views on the subject. No surprise there, I expect everyone in this room does, though perhaps with less frantic rhetoric. The thing is, guys: being part of the silent majority does nobody any good at all. Decisions are made by those who show the courage to speak truth to power… and if you don’t think that takes courage I suggest you ask yourselves why you hid your show of support when I turned around. Do better next time.

“OK," he calls out, without missing a beat, "Of course it’s not that simple in real life. Smith, let me assure you: this will come to a vote. Not today, probably not before the ’08 elections. Almost undoubtedly before 2012. Whether it passes or not depends, in large part, on the actions of several people in this building, and quite possibly in this room. And if that doesn’t scare you you aren’t paying enough attention.

Anyway, though: you asked exactly the right question: what gives them the right? Good! Proponents would reply: ‘National security.’ They’d tell you that mutants are dangerous, and the government has not only the right but the obligation to protect us from the threat they pose – or, in this case, protect them from the threat we pose. They’d tell you that it’s no different than making you register a gun, or a car. And here you are, defending mutant civil rights because you’re the only one who showed up for the vote, and the cameras turn to you and you say to them: what?"

[Tobias Smith]

>Anyway, though: you asked exactly the right question: what gives them the right? Good! Proponents would reply: ‘National security.’ They’d tell you that mutants are dangerous, and the government has not only the right but the obligation to protect us from the threat they pose – or, in this case, protect them from the threat we pose. They’d tell you that it’s no different than making you register a gun, or a car. And here you are, defending mutant civil rights because you’re the only one who showed up for the vote, and the cameras turn to you and you say to them: what?"

Well, Tobias has the spotlight now, and he can feel everyone's eyes on him. He sighs, then slowly stands up, slightly pained and begins his returning argument. Tobias is no politician, and the only reason he took this course because he thought he could sleep in the back instead of taking detailed notes about the long domino chain that is history in the making. He thinks about what to say, given the possible situation, then speaks quietly and slowly.

"...So its come to this. I...we, are on the same level as inanimate objects: guns and cars. Sir or Ma'am, you've just completely stricken every mutant not only in this country, but in the world from the classification as 'human.' Just because we are different, you wish to essentially brand us, label us, take our rights to privacy and every constitutional right away. There was another time this kind of thing happened. That thing ended in January of 1863, with the signing of the Emancipation Proclimation. Guess what? That's slavery! If you pass this billl, you might as well write out deeds of ownership to the government, put us up on the auction block, and sell us like cattle. When the slaves were oppressed, JUST LIKE THIS, it was because that they were both cheap labor, and A THREAT!


....Back then, the Civil War broke out because of an almost identical issue. Back then, it was with single-shot rifles, the Howitzers, and North vs. South. If this passes, it would be Mutant vs. Norm, and nukes would be involved. If we are such a threat, passing this bill would lead to the very thing you, and we all fear: war. War between mutants and normals. We have abilities and the 'threat' factor where we would gather and form our own nations, while you have nuclear weaponry. This would lead to possible global conflicts, then......well....we all die. Mutant and Man alike are either anihilated by the bombs, and the more dangerous ones among our kind cause more harm then help, or there's a chance that we blow up the whole fucking planet......all because of one little piece of crap that you want to pass. And guess what? Nobody wins...everybody loses.....that's it."

[Warren Worthington III]

Warren blinks, surprised. Nice… didn’t think the kid had it in him. Cares more than he lets on… I’ll have to remember that.

"Not bad," he replies, nodding. "Not bad at all. Especially that first part. The second part, unfortunately, puts headlines on every national newspaper saying “Mutants threaten global extermination if Registration Act passes,” and probably creates more opposition than support, but still – that was pretty good for an off-the-cuff response. Plus, extra points for knowing the year the Emancipation Proclamation was signed."

Warren sits back down on his desk, and waves Tobias to sit as well. "OK. We’re going to spend the next couple of weeks looking into this Mutant Registration Act – what it is, what it isn’t, and how to fight it. Here’s your first assignment: look up the Senatorial voting record on it and pick a senator… if you’re from the US I’d prefer one from your home state, but you can pick any one you like… and give me your analysis of why he or she voted the way he did, and three things that might have changed his or her vote. Those can be as implausible as you want, but nothing illegal, no mind control, no threatening family members or anything like that."

He grins and adds "Usual rules apply: shorter is better as long as you have something to say, don’t try to impress me with your eloquent writing style, if it’s more than two pages you’re probably doing it wrong. Work together if you want but I want a separate analysis from each of you. Any questions, you know how to find me. And in honor of Mr. Smith’s impassioned defense of mutant civil rights, I’m letting you all go early today – though, Smith, I’d like a word with you before you go?"

The end of his class never fails to amuse Warren – they tear off like high-school students everywhere, except most places the fleeing horde keeps their feet on the ground when they do it. Not Xavier’s. And not that he’s complaining – that’d be hypocritical of him, to say the least! But it takes getting used to just the same.

He suspects from Tobias’ expression that the boy expects to be criticized for something, though the truth is he’s rarely sure what’s going on in this kid’s mind and suspects he’s often better off not knowing. "That really was a good off-the-cuff speech – or did you timestop to give yourself prep-time? Either way, it earns you an extra-credit assignment if you want it: write it up as a letter to a local paper. It won’t get published there, of course; the vote is old news; mostly what I want to see is what you’re capable of with some time to polish your rhetoric and think about your arguments. But a friend of mine is writing a book about the Registration Act and I think he’d love to quote one of America’s youth; if you write something decent I’ll talk to him about getting it included – anonymously if you want. Interested?"

[Tobias Smith]

> And in honor of Mr. Smith’s impassioned defense of mutant civil rights, I’m letting you all go early today – though, Smith, I’d like a word with you before you go?

Tobias sighs, and mutters, "Dammit..." He watches as everyone flees this god-awful class, before grabbing his things and limping toward Warren. He knows he should have just shut up, and gone with the silent majority. But no, he had to stand up and give his opinion...and had that been real, might have just caused World War III. Somehow, this makes him smile a half smile, before wiping it from his face. He can just imagine Officer Polanski, sitting on his fat ass watching the elections in a few years, and watch as Tobias Smith wins and becomes president. Oh what a dangerous world that would be...

> "That really was a good off-the-cuff speech – or did you timestop to give yourself prep-time? Either way, it earns you an extra-credit assignment if you want it: write it up as a letter to a local paper. It won’t get published there, of course; the vote is old news; mostly what I want to see is what you’re capable of with some time to polish your rhetoric and think about your arguments. But a friend of mine is writing a book about the Registration Act and I think he’d love to quote one of America’s youth; if you write something decent I’ll talk to him about getting it included – anonymously if you want. Interested?"

Tobias looks at him with an unreadable expression, and replies, sullenly of course, "Nope. If I had stopped time, I'd be in a much worse mood, and panting probably...but IF I do this....what'd be the point of it being anonymous? Hell, its like painting a masterpiece, without your signature. I mean...a speech is just like painting a picture, except words instead of paint, and the minds of the audience instead of canvas. Seeing or knowing the creator is half of the effect..." Tobias pauses, and thinks about actually doing the assignment.

The darkly-clad lad closes his eyes, and concentrates slightly. To Warren, it would appear he was thinking about if he should do it or not. In reality, Tobias taps into his power, starting to feel the pressure of the fourth dimension. He opens his eyes, and walks behind the now-stopped Warren to the chalkboard, and writes with a red piece of chalk, Fine. Give me a week. And if this works, I expect more than just a little bit of extra credit. See ya, flyboy. With that done, he walks back infront of Warren, deposits the piece of chalk in his hands and exits the room before starting time again. Gone in 60 trillionths of a second.

[Warren Worthington III]

> " IF I do this....what'd be the point of it being anonymous? "

Warren nods – he’d been hoping that would be Tobias’ attitude, but wanted to give him a safer route. "Your choice, of course. You realize, though, that once you –" The boy is suddenly replaced by a hole in the air, an effect Warren has actually begun to get used to, and Warren realizes he’s now talking to himself.

Hm. I wonder if that was a yes or a no? I suppose I’ll find out if he actually writes it. It takes him a moment to notice the chalk in his hands, and he laughs out loud when he looks at the chalkboard. All right, my little voice of a generation, let’s see just how much you’ve got to say underneath that sullen façade of yours. Keeping Tobias and the rest of this class interested and engaged is turning out to be one of the most challenging tasks he’s ever taken on – how in the world did Hank make it seem so easy? -- but has the potential to be one of the most rewarding, too.

An eraser springs to life, awkwardly wiping down the board as Warren watches. Yes, it would actually be simpler and faster to do it by hand, but using his TK-aura like this gets easier the more he practices, and he rather enjoys the effect… it reminds him of Merlin’s room-cleaning scene in Disney’s “Sword in the Stone”. And that reminds him of a package from Superior Costumes that should have arrived by now, and he grins at nobody in particular as he turns the classroom lights off and flies back to his room.

(( OOC: I think we’re done! Archive before Josh sees it and remembers Warren’s a teacher now. ))