Blog Post #2

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." (pg.105)

In the story, Atticus says this quote, talking about Jem. Although he is with Scout, I think that he is saying this as a general lesson for his kids, but more specifically towards Jem. I think he is saying this to Jem because of what Jem did to Mrs. Dubose's yard. I also think the main reason he is saying this is because of what him and Scout were discussing. They were talking about Atticus and how most people think he is wrong for helping Tom Robinson. Atticus is directing this quote towards his own personal situation. I think that in the context of this story, the quote means that just because everyone else thinks that Atticus should not defend Tom Robinson, doesn't mean that he should listen to them and not do it. His conscience overrides what eveyone else is saying and is more important to listen to.

There have been many incedencies in my life that this quote could apply to. I think that as a part of growing up, everyone will experience a situation where they will need to decide between doing something they believe in and know is right, and doing what everyone around them is doing. In elementary school, I remember everyone in my class would carve in the desks. Everyone at my table of four was using scissors to dig little holes in the desks. Although everyone was doing it, in the pit of my stomach I knew that it was wrong. I didn't see the point in carving holes, and I knew we could get in trouble for destroying school property. It was very tempting to go along with the crowd and follow what everyone else was doing. Being young and naive I did it, simply because everyone else was doing it. Looking back on this situation, from a more mature view, I realize that I should not have gone along with it. I knew that it was wrong, adn my conscience told me not to go along with it, yet I still did. Instead of listening to my conscience, I listened to what the other kids were doing. Conscience does not abide by majority rule, and if your conscience is speaking to you, then that is enough to listen to it.