- Nasreen: I was happy until one day, our entire world turned upside down. I go out on my usual errands and suddenly people are staring at my hijab. I've worn it all my adult life, and now I get looks and whispers as I pass by. Why? I'm still the same person. I haven't changed. I try to believe that some people are just curious, but why wasn't I asked about it years ago? Why now? See, it's not curiosity, it's suspicion.
- Rev. Eric Camden: Fear can bring out the worst in people, and fear is evidence of a lack of faith. I mean, for some people, that's a lack of faith in God. For others, it's a lack of faith in themselves, but for others, it's a lack of faith in their fellow man. I hope what's happened with Yasmine doesn't make you lose your faith in people's kindness.
- Nasreen: Oh, how can I? I have proof sitting right here in front of me. I'm sorry to have burdened you with my problems. I'm a very pro-active person and I hope I'm not sounding like a victim because that's not my intent.
- Mary: I heard what you did tonight and I'm really proud of you, Ruthie.
- Ruthie Camden: Yeah. Mom and Dad told me about a billion times already. Big deal.
- Lucy: What you did was really amazing, so don't think that it's not. You stood up for someone who was being discriminated against because of her religion and that's a big deal. A very big deal. The biggest!
- Ruthie Camden: Yeah, and look where it got me. Now I have to change schools.
- Mary: Look, Ruthie, I know how much you like private school and nobody would think badly of you if you don't go through with it, if you don't want to.
- Ruthie Camden: I don't want to, but I think it's something I have to do. Eleanor Roosevelt said, "It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself." I think I have to bite the bullet.
- Ruthie Camden: [as Ruthie addresses the school board] Ruthie: My name is Ruthie Camden and first, I want to say how much I like going to the Eleanor Roosevelt School. My classes are really cool and I get to do so much more than I did at my old school. I love horses and I even get to take Equestrian classes. It's like a dream come true for me. I've learned so much at this school. Last week, during science period, Miss Riddle talked to us about the spine. She taught us how important the spine is to the entire body. The spine allows you to hold your head up high. Well, I don't think I'll be able to hold my head up high in this class anymore, if this school doesn't let my friend Yasmine attend. And from what I've read about her, Eleanor Roosevelt has a really strong spine. This school is named after her and if you want to know more about her, you should read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It's all about freedom, justice and peace.
- Rev. Eric Camden: [whispers to Annie] Out of the mouths of babes.
- Ruthie Camden: [as she reads Eleanor Roosevelt] It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.
- Mary: Sometimes it's not easy to do the right thing. It's not easy when you've done stupid things and you have to make up for them.
- Ruthie Camden: It's not easy when you do smart things either.
- Nasreen: I appreciate your sympathy, but I don't expect you to completely understand what I'm going through.
- Annie Camden: As a mother, I understand at least some of what you're going through. I know the fear and worry over the safety of my children.
- Ruthie Camden: I still don't understand it. She didn't do anything. Her family didn't do anything. They're Americans just like everyone else.
- Annie Camden: I know, Ruthie. I know.
- Lucy: I just started thinking about Yasmine and how people can be so cruel and how horrible I was to you which didn't make me much better than those boys, and how everyone in the world has the same capacity to be so mean and intolerant. It just makes me feel so sad.
- Mary: You know how it makes me feel? Angry.
- Yasmine: Yasmine was walking home from school when a couple of boys started following her. They were calling her names because she's Muslim and trying to scare her, and one of them even picked up a dirt clod and threw it at her.
- Yasmine: That's when Ruhtie ran over and started yelling back at them, but they still kept on following us.
- Rev. Eric Camden: And this was happening right outside our house?
- Yasmine: It's happening everywhere.
- Rev. Eric Camden: Did these boys ever physically hurt you?
- Yasmine: No. Just my feelings.
- Rev. Eric Camden: Feelings are important, too. They matter a great deal and you matter. We're not gonna let this continue.
- Matt: Guys terrorizing innocent little girls on the way home from school? I mean, what has this world come to?
- Simon Camden: Just a bunch of little cowards.
- Matt: Ignorant little cowards.
- Simon Camden: Evil, ignorant little cowards!
- Matt: Yeah.
- Simon Camden: So, aside from calling them cowards behind their backs, what are we gonna do about it?
- Matt: I know what I'm gonna do about it.
- Simon Camden: What?
- Matt: Kick their butts!
- Ruthie Camden: So if this board chooses to do the wrong thing, I feel that it goes against everything Eleanor Roosevelt stood for and I will have to quit!
- Woman: [whispers] We'd get our scholarship back.
- Woman #2: I have a friend whose kid would like to get in. They're not Muslim.
- Ruthie Camden: Hello. That was the end of my speech. I said I was going to quit!
- [Eric, Annie, Mrs. Mackoul and Miss Riddle stand up and clap while everyone else is silent]
- Ruthie Camden: Tough crowd.