<p class="c8 c7">
<span class="c0">“We can say the same thing about any of our heroes or villains, for that matter. What would have become of Mozart if his parents had been poor peasants without a piano, unable to afford to introduce him to music? Would we know anything about Dostoyevsky or Tolstoy if they hadn’t gone to school—as was the case for many poor people in the world at that time—and had never learned to read and write? How about Albert Einstein? And don’t get me started on Adolf Hitler! Good or bad, they are all products of their times and experiences, whether we like it or not.</span>
</p>
<p class="c8 c7">
<span class="c0">“How do I deal with the heroes and villains? I still enjoy Mozart, Dostoyevsky, and Tolstoy. I acknowledge and I am thankful for the contribution of Einstein and all other scientists, but I don’t worship them. They were people like us, with their positive qualities and flaws, but at the same time, I understand that many things had to happen just right for them to create something we all enjoy, something that made them famous. We are right to celebrate the achievements of the best, but we shouldn’t forget that many thousands of scientists have worked just as hard and were simply not that lucky. </span>
</p>
<p class="c8 c7">
<span class="c0">“I don’t like Hitler and what happened because of him, but I still understand that he was a product of his time and his environment, as simple as that.” Jenifer looked around, but mainly at David, to see if he had any more questions.</span>
</p>
<p class="c8 c7">
<span class="c0">“But doesn’t your theory provide a perfect excuse for almost anything, for any failing? Doesn’t it give people excuses for not working hard, for not even trying?” David refused to accept everything that easily; he would challenge it to the end.</span>
</p>
<p class="c8 c7">
<span class="c0">Jenifer gave him an understanding smile and a nod. </span>
</p>