A trial about what most of the 20th century was about. Good and bad. Science was on trial and won, social darwinism was on trial and lost 30 years before the Nazis got their asses kicked. The Defense attourney called the PROSECUTOR (a 3 time presidential candidate) to the witness stand! Literally like a John Grisham Novel.
Plus, it has Clarence Darrow (a hero of mine) as the good guy and some fundie whacky who "doesn't think anout things he doesn't think about" but "sometimes thinks about things he does think about" as the villan. This is a 100% true story.
In 1925 a dude named Scopes decided to teach Evolution in a Tennessee high school. He gets ARRESTED cause there's laws about godless teachings threatening the souls of kiddos. The ACLU enters the pic, they get hotshot lawyer Clarence Darrow (A hero of mine) to defend Scopes and challenge the Tennessee law against evolution.
Here's a quote from the actual transcripts of the trial...
Darrow--Great applause from the bleachers.
Bryan (Prosecuting attourney, Fundementalist, 3 time presidentioal candidate, and ON THE WITNESS STAND)--From those whom you call "Yokels."
Darrow--I have never called them yokels.
Fuck it, here's some more...
The Court--Mr. Bryan, you are not objecting to going on the stand?
Bryan--Not at all.
The Court--Do you want Mr. Bryan sworn?
Darrow--No.
Bryan--I can make affirmation; I can say "So help me God, I will tell the truth."
Darrow--No, I take it you will tell the truth, Mr. Bryan.
Darrow--You claim that everything in the Bible should be literally interpreted?
Bryan--I believe everything in the Bible should be accepted as it is given there: some of the Bible is given illustratively. For instance: "Ye are the salt of the earth." I would not insist that man was actually salt, or that he had flesh of salt, but it is used in the sense of salt as saving God's people.
Darrow--But when you read that Jonah swallowed the whale--or that the whale swallowed Jonah-- excuse me please--how do you literally interpret that?
Bryan--When I read that a big fish swallowed Jonah--it does not say whale....That is my recollection of it. A big fish, and I believe it, and I believe in a God who can make a whale and can make a man and make both what He pleases.
Darrow--Wait until you get to me. Do you know anything about how many people there were in Egypt 3,500 years ago, or how many people there were in China 5,000 years ago?
Bryan--No.
Darrow--Have you ever tried to find out?
Bryan--No, sir. You are the first man I ever heard of who has been in interested in it. (Laughter.)
Darrow--Mr. Bryan, am I the first man you ever heard of who has been interested in the age of human societies and primitive man?
Bryan--You are the first man I ever heard speak of the number of people at those different periods.
Darrow--Where have you lived all your life?
Darrow--We have the purpose of preventing bigots and ignoramuses from controlling the education of the United States.
Darrow--Do you know there are thousands of books in our libraries on all those subjects I have been asking you about?
Bryan--I couldn't say, but I will take your word for it....
Darrow--Have you any idea how old the earth is?
Bryan--No.
Darrow--The Book you have introduced in evidence tells you, doesn't it?
Bryan--I don't think it does, Mr. Darrow.
Darrow--Let's see whether it does; is this the one?
Bryan--That is the one, I think.
Darrow--It says B.C. 4004?
And, finally, my favorite...
Bryan--Your Honor, I think I can shorten this testimony. The only purpose Mr. Darrow has is to slur at the Bible, but I will answer his question. I will answer it all at once, and I have no objection in the world, I want the world to know that this man, who does not believe in a God, is trying to use a court in Tennesseee--
Darrow--I object to that.
Bryan--(Continuing) to slur at it, and while it will require time, I am willing to take it.
Darrow--I object to your statement. I am exempting you on your fool ideas that no intelligent Christian on earth believes.
The Court--Court is adjourned until 9 o'clock tomorrow morning.



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