"Yes, Marie. I know you mean what you say."

"But you seem so... so quiet about it. Don't you believe me, Michael?" "I just said that I believe you, didn't I? Of course I believe you."

"Then what's on your mind, Mike?"

"It's just that I can't accept your statement... That's different from not believing it."

"What?"

He put down his drawing pencil, and half-turned toward her. "I think that everyone is prejudiced, Marie. Me, and you, and ten billion other people who are walking around on this big, spinning globe. We're all prejudiced, in one way or another."

"Everyone is prejudiced? Are you kidding, Michael?"

"Not at all. I sincerely believe that prejudice is something we, as humans, cannot avoid. Civilization hasn't taught us how, yet. I admit that there are a few pioneers, and you, Marie, are undoubtedly one of them; but, so far, everyone has just the slightest bit of prejudice somewhere... for something... "Oh Michael! That's ridiculous!"

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"Okay, Marie... I'll explain; but first I want to ascertain just what the word 'prejudice' means to you. Does it mean throwing stones...? Or just turning up your nose... ?"

She stared at him with huge, bewildered eyes.

"I know what you're thinking, Marie... Of course you wouldn't throw stones; civilization has taught us that much; but we do turn up our noses, I think."

"How, Mike?"

"By disagreeing with things we do not understand."

"Such as...?"

"Let me go back to the beginning. Prejudice has a long history. Civilization has taught us a lot about how we should act, and what we should think, but there is still a long way to go. For example, we are now at the point in our progress where we are willing to accept a person who is different, providing we understand his difference, why he is different, and that he, himself, had no control over his destiny; in other words, we are willing to accept the different race, the different religion, the different nationality, providing we know just how all this difference came about; we understand it. We, in turn, realize that we seem different to others, also."

"Of course, Mike..."

"You're Italian, aren't you, Marie? And your religion is Roman Catholic." That's right..."

"But you understand and accept the difference of, say, the Jews..." "Certainly. Some of my best friends are Jews."

"How about the Moslems... Do you accept them, also?"

"Moslems...?"

"You have no Moslem friends, I take it."

"Why, no..

"Do you like the Moslems as well as you like the Jews?" "But I don't know any Moslems, Mike."

"That's exactly what I'm trying to bring out, Marie."

"I don't get it."

"Do you like the Armenians, Marie?"

"I suppose I would, if I knew any, but..."

"How about the Lamas in Tibet; do you think their religion is as good

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