Throughout Miss Gates' lesson, Scout discovers the hypocrisy attached to condemning Hitler's treatment of the Jews, while supporting racial prejudice in Maycomb County. During a "Current Events" activity in school, Cecil Jacobs explains to the class how "Old Hitler has been after the Jews." (Lee 327) Miss Gates explains that Germany is a dictatorship, which is the reason Hitler can get away with such atrocities. Scout is praised after she repeats the definition of democracy, which is "equal rights for all, special privileges for none," and Miss Gates elaborates on the differences between Germany and the United States. She boldly proclaims that people in America do not believe in persecuting anybody because there is no prejudice in the United States. Scout takes note of Miss Gates' statement and remembers the time when Miss Gates was leaving the courthouse. Scout heard her say, "it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' next thing they think they can do is marry us." (Lee 331) The contradiction lies in the fact that people are not being treated equally in America despite its democratic foundation. Scout witnesses prejudice towards African Americans each day in Maycomb, Alabama. Scout asks Jem the important question, "How can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly to folks right at home?" (Lee 331)
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