"Speech." Jean chuckled. "Hank helped organize it, to explain to people what Mutants are and hopefully lessen humanity's prejudice against them."
"Pointless." Aaron said helplessly. "Prejudice in people's hearts is like a mountain. No matter how hard you try, you'll never move it."
"The outcome wasn't great. I spent over half a month preparing the materials and carefully lectured onstage for more than an hour, only to become Senator Kelly's backdrop for boosting his reputation."
"A senator attended too?" Aaron opened his mouth with a wry laugh, truly at a loss for words.
"We had to pick a few people who had some influence in politics!"
"Then couldn't you have chosen politicians who were friendly toward Mutants? Even if such an important speech couldn't win people over, you shouldn't have invited someone to sabotage it!"
"But this speech was held to oppose the mutant registration bill. If I couldn't persuade the bill's supporters, then even if my speech succeeded, it wouldn't mean much."
"But the result was that you were preaching to a cow." Aaron sighed helplessly and looked at Jean with some heartache. "Most politicians can't be moved by words. The only thing that can move them is profit.
"Money, office, prestige, and reputation are what they want. No matter what you do, if it doesn't benefit them, they won't waste time, effort, or resources supporting you.
"But if it serves their interests, they'll find every possible way to support you, even if what you're doing is wrong."
Jean's pupils trembled slightly. It wasn't as though she didn't know this bloody reality, but she still held some hope for society.
"Even if I can persuade just one person, my efforts won't have been in vain."
"But it still won't mean much. The relationship between humans and Mutants won't change