#baronyofthesilverwolf

Gio looks at each in turn. Then looks back to Gwen. "What did you mean, then?"

A nod of agreement with Katrina, but giving Gwen room to answer.

"What I said, sometimes there's wisdom in a crowd, or power in a community. It's not a uniquely Americann thing. the US constitution borrowed ideas from the Iroquois confederation. Some familes work, others don't"

Art glances over at Trina. He whispers, "I guess I was wrong...?"

A slow nod. "I did not intend to say it is uniquely American. However, the American Dream as we know it has undermined all that is good in the group. It has dismantled the tribe in the name of individualism, and it has created a situation where those who have little are left to suffer because they are seen as flawed if they cannot provide for themselves."

That last comment seems to have connected to what Art said...but without acknowledging Art directly.

Gwen frowns again but doesnn't say much.

"You're screwed if you can't fight, or have someone fight for you."

"this seems a touch..cynical" Gwen mutters

Another nod to Katrina, then a curious look to Gwen. "Does it? In what way?" Apparently that mutter was not low enough.

"Sorry, Sir, but while you won't hear me praise the government that much, I donnn't agree ALL the good in a group has beenn undermined. I think some folks WANT us to think that but... " A shrug

"So you just need to find a cause to get behind, or have your own strength, or rally others, to champion your cause..."

Art reasons...

"I dunno if stuff ever really changes."

"Is that what you heard me say?" He shakes his head. "The urge to form groups, to band together, is still strong. The urge to do well as a group is there, in the will of the people. But the message from many above still relies on that notion of individual reward for individual exceptionalism. For a society that accepts individual reward is far easier to manipulate. The individuals who recognize this and serve each other well and truly? They are the leaders we often do not see or recognize, but they hold communities together."

"A society that accepts individual reward is easier to manipulate..." He ponders this, and then it occurs to him, "Like, if you play people against each other. Dangle rewards and make them compete, and thereby control them by their needs. It's the opposite of logic clearly dictating, that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few..."

Then to Katrina, a nod. "A playwright one described the future, not as a long line going forever forward, but as a series of circles, where we continuously loop back to what looks like old territory...but it isn't really, because we've come a little bit further since the last time."

Art looks a bit perplexed as he tries to place where that quote popped into his head from.

That narrow look again at Art, but he allows, "You see how easy it is for some with power to mistreat others, that way."

"You're the one who said..." He starts to respond, but trails off.

Considering.

That maybe what Gio said, and what he heard, are not the same thing.

"What play?"

The troll has gone quiet, looking troubled

To Katrina, he says, "Oh, that would be A Raisin in the Sun. A brilliant piece, and she based it off of her own father's battles to be allowed to move into a neighborhood where he was not welcome. He was, you see, African-American, and the community was red-lined." He looks around the room. "Are you familiar with red-lining?"

A nod

A blank look, unsurprisingly from Art.... and from most of the other students in the rather insular, white community.

A nod back to Gwen, as if he suspected she might be.

Then an up-nod of invitation to her. "Please...tell them."

Trina shakes her head, unfamiliar.

"Red liningg was an official goverment policy, meant to keep non white citizens from recivingg housing grants in new suburbs, it was used to discriminate... so white families could afford to move and get property cheap.. and non whites were trapped in poorer areas. It created a gap in generationnal wealth"

"That's *&^&-..." She bites it back.

He nods, agreeing with the definition. And with the nocker's cursing.

"Funny, I wonder why so many of you did not know of this. I wonder why you haven't already been taught it already in school. Yes, indeed...I do wonder...."

And the bell rings.

"Ah, well."

"But that's just skin color..." Arty is whispering to Trina, when the bell interrupts.

"Perhaps one of you will be able to tell me why that might be, next class. Dismissed."

Gwen gathers her books, looking troubled

"Ah, if I may speak with you three..."

He gestures to the fae students as the others file out.

Art wasn't moving towards the door, rather, he was already waiting.

Thistle gathers up her books, glancing to see if the muggles are gone. She has questions!

Art approaches Gio, and looks up at the teacher in quiet appraisal. "Did I say something wrong, Mister Casso? If I misspoke due to ignorance, I would like to know so that I can study better and not stand out amongst my peers."

That easy pose at the edge of the desk again. "Well, this does not happen at all my assignments. To whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"

He nods to the teacher. "I'm a fledge of Silverwolf, called 'Art' for now."

"This is my friend Trina, also called Thistle, and Dame Gwen Gladiola."

He introduces the others.

Gwen nods "Open Roads to you, Sir"

A bold never has slipped in through the cracked window, and the light blue fellow is perched on the end of Gio's scimitar, tapping curiously at some adornment on the sheath.