"If there's just one kind of folks, why can't they get along with each other? If they're all alike, why do they go out of their way to despise each other? Scout, I think I'm beginning to understand something. I think I'm beginning to understand why Boo Radley's stayed shut up in the house all this time. It's because he wants to stay inside.”  -Jem Finch
What do you make of this quote? What do you think Jem means? Have you ever felt the way Jem feels at this moment?
alana stanford
3/2/2013 11:14:16 pm

I think this quote is saying , we're all human & we all have our way of living rather its out in the world or shut up inside (boo radley.) we're all alike we all breathe the same air & we all live on the same planet dispite some little differences. jem ask why do we go out our wat to despise each other? that's a good question ... that comes from jealousy. which we have a lot of in this world but that shouldn't effect us if we see it in an everyday life.

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Dezerra Williams
3/5/2013 12:52:22 am

I agree to what you are saying 100%. We are all just human and I think we should all just get along. The racism that was going on then and now is just crazy. People need to wake up and realize it is all wrong.

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Amit Sharma
3/12/2013 12:27:33 am

That is the most smartest and beautiful thing I've ever heard. I believe there is only one race, human. (got that from the poster in the room)

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Brandon Camarena
3/4/2013 11:05:37 pm

I think Jem's quote is trying to say that if we are all human then why do we all despise and hate eachother? I also think he realizes that people have been trying to harm each other for ever and he does not understand it because we are all human. I agree with this quote because through out history people have be hated other groups of people for simple reasons and it has cost the lives of many people. For example slavery killed many blacks and they are people too, but just because of their skin color they were treated differently. Also I think Jem realizes or thinks that the reason why
Boo Radley does not come out too much is because he does not want to see the hatred that the people of Maycomb have for eachother. Also I have witnessed this before because i have seen racism in school and other places just because the person had a different religion or skin color, but in teh end we are all people and what makes you better than someone else? Since Jem is older than Scout I think he comes up with the idea because he is starting to realize things and use his mind to solve questions like this one he thought of.

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Haley Wolfersberger
3/11/2013 10:48:50 am

I agree with you Brandon and i think it is an awful thing that we have treated people so badly in the past. Slavery was a good example of human error. Also we have discriminated against people for their religion in the past such as the Jews in Germany. Its a horrible thing that we could treat other humans so wrongly.

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Brady Shreeves
3/12/2013 12:19:13 am

i completely agree with brandon, i believe that the world is too harsh and to think that people could be so quick to judge a person just by their skin is beyond me. a persons character should not be judged by their skin.

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Morgan Conte
3/16/2013 07:45:42 am

I agree! People are people so i dont understand why people will hate others for no reason. Just because people may be different, we are all the same because we are all human.

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Emily Disharoon
3/17/2013 07:44:41 am

i agree with brandon. people shouldnt hate on each other just because the feel like it. we are all the same, and shouldnt be discriminated.

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Andrew Hoeck (Bob)
3/17/2013 09:15:30 am

We all live different lives and its also based on our experiences how easy it is to look past someone who is different based on race, religion, or social beliefs. Based on playing soccer, I've grown up with people of different races like Brandon and race has no effect on the way I think of him as a teammate and a friend and that's something it usually takes for someone to look past some of those aspects, if you don't have anything in common or a connection then you are more likely to judge than someone who does

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Ryan Shannahan
3/17/2013 10:45:01 am

I agree. it really shows Jem's revelation to reality. He finally sees that not everyone is good. This quote could help us predict some future events in the novel.

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Dezerra Williams
3/5/2013 12:24:23 am

This quote is bascially saying that we are all the same on the outside, the only difference is is the skin color. We all get to the earth the same way so why treat other disrespectfully?. Its not right. We all function the same way, we may do things differently but its all the same. Now I realize why Boo Radley stays in the house because people are so rude and cruel. I wouldn't want to be out of the comfort of my home if peaople are so rude. I total understand where Boo is coming from.

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Taje' Cotton
3/5/2013 04:13:41 am

I totally agree with what you are saying Dez, it still seems as though things are still like that in this generation. So I could understand why Boo would feel like this because it was even harder to accept certain people at that time.

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Aahed Abdullah
3/16/2013 11:59:28 pm

I totally agree with you Dezerra It really is not right to treat each other disrespectfully. And it does reflect on a lot of us especially like you said Boo Radley isolated himself from his surrounding because people and ignorant and cruel to each other.

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Amirah Carolina
3/17/2013 08:09:13 am

I agree. If i was Boo i would not come out the house either. Racism then and now are almost the same because people still do not like the other race either its whites not liking African Americans or there African Americans not liking whites. But today some people dont really show it like they did back then.

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karly pizza
3/17/2013 08:10:30 am

i 100% agree on what you are saying! its not right at all.

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Andrew Hoeck (Bob)
3/5/2013 12:24:53 am

Jem tries to connect Boo Radley's decision to stay inside his house most of the time to the way people are in this town and as a whole. It may be because Boo isn't happy with the way the town is and doesn't want to be a part of it, so he chooses to stay inside his house. Jem also is starting to mature and question why society is the way it is and why people aren't treated as equal based on the color of their skin.

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Brandon Camarena
3/6/2013 09:40:54 am

I agree with you Bob because the people of Maycomb are very judgmental and gossip a whole lot. That might be another reason why Boo Radley does not want to come out of his house.

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3/5/2013 12:45:43 am

I think what Jem is saying is that he is tired of all of the unequal and wrong treatment of non-whites in his world and he wants it to end. In his young mind he thinks he can shut out all the crap of the outside world by living an introverteed lifestyle like boo does. He thinks that will fix all of the problems. I think he should embrace the problem and make a difference.

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Haley Wolfersberger
3/6/2013 08:05:11 am

I believe this quote is showing that Jemeyes are being opened to the world around him. He is starting to grow up and see that everything is most certainly not perfect and there are a lot of unjust events in the world. Jen is beginning to see that some people make decisions that seem crazy to others but at the same time make perfect sense to the person making the decision. Jem sees why Boo Radley stays inside of his house all the time an understands his reasoning.
I think everyone has felt the way Jem is feeling at this moment sometime in their life. We have all witnesse or heard about events that don't seem fair to us. We also have all judged people before for doing something out of the ordinary and then realized that we were the ones who were wrong. This is a common feeling in life. It's a lesson we all learn something from.

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Abigail Thomas
3/12/2013 10:54:52 am

I agree completely. Jen is finally understanding reality. I like your interpretation on the quote!

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Kaely Whittington
3/16/2013 09:52:03 am

I really agree with you about how we experience this. Realizing and being able to understand that not everyone gets a long is a huge part of growing up that we all face.

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Zane Carter
3/17/2013 12:09:37 pm

I completely agree with your interpretation. I definitely think that Jem is starting to grow up and learn about life.

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Tara Ward
3/6/2013 08:28:08 am

This quote is saying we are all human. We all have noses, eyes, ears, etc in the same places (hopefully) and we all have the same ways of communication. Some of us are just more colorful or short or rounder than others. These differences, especially the ones we cannot change should not be held against anyone.I think Jem is beginning to really understand why his world is the way it is relating to superiority among humans. This understanding both frustrates and saddens him, to think that someone would be treated differently just because of something they cannot even change. I, too, have felt the same as Jem. When you know something is wrong in the world and you don't feel like you can do anything to change it. That kind of feeling makes you just want to stay in and not even tempt the headache of stepping outside. Dill also feels this way, whether he could put it into words or not. But the way he reacted at the trail makes me think he was not brought up and conditioned the way most white children were back then. I wonder if we will ever get to find out more about Dill and his background.

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Blaire Langeler
3/17/2013 11:55:50 am

I agree with what Tara said about Jem meaning it's sad that people are so cruel to others because of something they can't change. It's sad but it still happens everyday.

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Kelly Deehan
3/10/2013 10:02:19 am

I believe this quote to mean that Jem is seeing how petty and mean people can be. He is seeing how society works and doesn't like it. We can be so judgemental and cruel to others and Jem doesn't understand why. Why can't we get along? I have often felt like this and agree with Boo Radley, sometimes you want to give up on the world after you look at what's going on. I understand why Boo gave up, why would he want to be part of the society that pushed him out and gossips about him. Sometimes we all just want to close ourselves off from this cruel world, but that's not the solution. If we want it to change we need to make an effort. Jem is observing the world with mature eyes but is still judging it with a child's innocence.

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Mady Eutsler
3/11/2013 05:50:52 am

I think this quote is really showing the maturation of Jem, the deceasing of his innocence and tunnel vision of the world. This quote's outlining that the world isn't all that it's cracked up to be and there are some bad people who's minds you can't change and it's a terrifying thought that there are some people out there who's thoughts we can't imagine. It sucks and Jem's realising that. He doesn't understand why people have to go at each other and why that's the way it is. Jem is basically saying that he doesn't really blame Boo because life is cruel and people's thoughts are cruel and he just doesn't understand why everyone just can't get along and think logically and not judge anyone based on the colour of their skin because on the inside, aren't we all just human? I think everyone feels like this at least once in their life. They look at the news and they kind of just sit there and think to themselves, "Why is all of this like this? Why do people have to be like this?" and they realise that this is how life is. And I think Jem is finally starting to realise that.

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Cara kirn
3/14/2013 09:29:32 am

I agree with you Jem is growing up and is being so smart about things. He is just like his father.

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Amirah Carolina
3/17/2013 08:11:45 am

I agree, Jem is starting to understand how the world really is.

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Tiffany-Jade Smallwood
3/11/2013 06:50:44 am

As he's getting older and experiencing more, Jem is beginning to have a widened view of the world and those around him. If everybody around him is a human, why can't they all get along? Boo is human just like the rest of them, but he chooses to stay in his house and exclude himself from what is going on. I can understand what Jem means, sometimes it takes a while for you to understand why someone acts a certain way and this case, he is realising why Boo does not socialise.

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Allison Franklin
3/16/2013 04:23:18 am

I totally agree with you. Jem is getting older and starting to see the world through more mature eyes. As he sees how cruel people can be they, he finally understands why Boo stays in his house. I couldn't of said it better myself.

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Keniya Walker
3/16/2013 12:10:32 pm

This is very true. Jem's maturity level has increased and he is starting to understand the people in Maycomb more and more. Its important that you understand the people around because you wouldnt wanna be influenced by negative people.

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Lashauntae finney
3/17/2013 09:22:42 am

Your right Keniya, Jem has matured alot in these post chapters.

Aahed Abdullah
3/17/2013 12:43:22 am

I agree with you especially when you said "sometimes it takes a while for you to understand why someone acts a certain way and this case, he is realizing why Boo does not socialize." That's the same thing I said. Jem is growing up fast and finally getting a better look at the world around him.

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Marissa Bratten
3/11/2013 08:16:54 am

I think that this quote is trying to say that even though all of us are equal and were all human, some people still find things that they do not like in one another. Everyone finds some reason why they dont have to like someone or be acquainted with them. For some reason all people decide to have excuses in which lets them have a certain few that arent good enough for them. Jem means that everyone in maycomb whether they are the same color or not they still dont get along and they all have their issues. He is also trying to say no matter what happens people will still have the ones who they dislike, whether others like them or not. Sometimes its better to just stay to yourself like Boo Radley so others dont have to hate you and there is never any problems. I have felt the way Jem felt before because sometimes all of the fighting and conflict between everyone else just gets old and it makes you wanna step back and not get involved. You want to stay to yourself just like Boo Radley did because all the dislike and hate really isn't worth the time.

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Aahed Abdullah
3/17/2013 12:07:45 am

I agree with you Marissa that some people try finding things that they do not like in one another. And that it is true it's better to stay to yourself and not get hurt than be open and cause problems or issues. Many people think this way like Boo Radley. And it's not worth it like you said because I think people should not live to impress nobody.

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Ratyana Downing
3/17/2013 04:43:25 am

I agree with Marissa mainly because it's understandable why Boo would want to disassociate himself. He knows how the people in his town are and he would rather stay in the house, isolated, than deal with the issues that come with socializing.

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Abigail Thomas
3/12/2013 09:11:45 am

Jem is finally realizing how people in society act. He's becoming to learn new aspects, views, and thoughts of other people. This quote means to me that no matter what, people are always going to discriminate against others, and find something they don't like about you. Jem is seeing how society works, and what's it's made of, and he doesn't enjoy learning about it. I believe people have felt this way at least once in their lives. Sometimes I observe others and just ask myself "Why do they do that?" But then I realize that everybody is different, and that's just the way life will always be, and nobody will be able to change it.

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Keniya Walker
3/12/2013 11:12:14 am

This quote to me says color, race, personality, gender, (etc...) just makes you unique none of this changes the face that your human. People do what they want because we all have different preferences that we do to make us happy. When someone doesn’t like some of your certain qualities they try to break you down and single you out. Being different shouldn’t be a bad thing but, people don’t look at it as oh he/she is that way because they human they look beyond that point and say oh he/she is black, tall, Christian, (etc.). And don’t realize that that same person is just as human and you are. This can be very hurtful to be around and to personally experience and there isn’t anyway to avoid it. That was what Jem probably realizes that why Boo stays in the house because he knows people judge him because of his past, and people will talk. Just like the children they started making all these false accusations about boo at first then they start to realize that he is nice and generous and they never got to know him before they judged him. Way too many people judge you before even knowing you and they shouldn’t because no one is perfect. How many mistakes you make or have made will not effect or take away the fact that you are still human.

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Aahed Abdullah
3/13/2013 10:49:58 am

I think the quote explains how Jem is beginning to understand the ways of the society he lives in. He begins to understand the action and the consequences of people in the town. Jem sees the townspeople very judgmental and they look down on others weaker than they are. Especially those of a different race and background. He learns the differences between love and hate. And how one little decision, that is made can turn a situation into a whole new different story. He then realizes that all of what he recognized comes down to one thing, why Boo Radley never leaves his house? It's because he wants to stay there, its Boo's decision not to face others judgments. Jem sees the townspeople very cruel to those who are weak.
Jem started to think deep inside, trying to find a reason why Boo Radley never leaves his house. And then i thought Boo does not want to be judged, not for the reason he stayed home nor the bad decisions he once made in the past. He wanted to be alone because it's his choice. Boo knows how the society of Maycomb really thinks. No matter what else he does the choice he made to stay home for so many years is making people judge him. And it will take a lot of courage to overcome the situation he is in. Jem sees the hate and discrimination and wishes it would all end, he does not understand why people are so different.

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Cara kirn
3/14/2013 09:26:55 am

I feel like hes talking about how poeple are supposed to be the same but they are so different. How everyone in the world are just so rude to people. There is no perfect person but that doesnt mean you have to be rude to people. He's talking about all the racism, people bullying one another, and people jugding others. He feels like the world just isnt right and there isnt anything anybody can do anything about it. Jem is saying how Boo doenst like how the world is going and how its turning out so instead of being in it he rather hide out. Yes sometimes I do feel the way Jem feels. There are some times people do that make me so sick and just see how the world is going down. How kids are doing stupid things to be cool or popular or how some people treat other people or when there are people out there killings others. Its sickening.

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Marissa Bratten
3/15/2013 06:27:02 am

I agree with this because jem is trying to say that people are just rude and ignorant to each other weather they are the same or not. But some people just decide to go and hide and get away from it all like Boo did.

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Katleyn Briddell
3/15/2013 03:15:39 am

How I feel about this quote is Jem is showing and realizing that people are cruel and even though that make it seem like their the same they will treat each other horrible to get their own way or even to hurt them. Boo Radley has shut him self from the world because of the meanful things that has been said to him. He will stay safe and also unhurt inside.

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Susana Padley
3/17/2013 03:09:31 am

I agree that as Jem is growing and maturing, he is realizing how society works and that people can be very mean. Boo knows how society works and that there are cruel things said, so he probably has decided that he is safe from everything inside his home.

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Morgan Conte
3/16/2013 07:43:03 am

I think this quote is saying we are all human so why do people hate each other. People go out of their way to hate each other for the color of their skin, but really we are all the same because we are human. Jem is saying he finally sees how reality is and the reason Boo Radley stays is his house is because he doesnt want to come out into all the hate in the town. Yes I have felt like this and i have wondered why people hate for no reason. But I always know people are gonna be like this and no matter what there will always be those people who will hate others for no reason.

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Katie Fleming
3/17/2013 05:41:06 am

this quote is basically explaining how jem is starting to realize what the society is about and how people judge each other by just there color and how they talk about each other by apperance. And we all have are own ways of living if someone wants to stay in there house locked up whats the big problem. There is more drama outside in the world. If i was him i wouldnt wanna go out there because if people just judge people by how they look then why be apart of that? so boo radely was living a peacful life in his home. and yes i have felt like jem before and then i realized how real and fake people can really be.

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karly pizza
3/17/2013 08:09:22 am

i think this quote basically says what it means. We are all equal out the outside but have different thoughts about the outside world around us. we go out of our way to make our selves stand out above everyone else because we know that we may all look the same. i have felt this way before actually when people look at you and think that they are so much better than you. when in reality they have no idea what you are thinking.

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Dylan Gregg
3/17/2013 01:20:51 pm

I totally agree with you. I cant stand it when people put themselves above everyone else.

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Lashauntae finney
3/17/2013 09:29:41 am

I think jem is confused as to why people can't get along. and he is right if we all are alike then why can't we get along? I also think he is trying to make out the reasons aa to why they treated tom the way they did but he is trying to figure it out by himself. This also shows his maturity level increasing. I have felt like this before. Then I tried to figure it out on my own instead of asking questions.

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Ryan Shannahan
3/17/2013 10:17:39 am

This quote is very profound. Despite it's vagueness, it gets the message through. I interpret this quote as Jem's revelation about reality. This quote defines the citizens of Maycomb to Jem. I'm sure we have all had a moment like this. Even though I can't specifically remember a moment, I do know that I have had one. The part of the quote referencing Boo Radley is definitely important. Jem finally understands the good side of Boo. He sees that people tend to judge before they know people. This quote may reveal to us some upcoming scenes in the novel.

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Maggie Moore
3/17/2013 11:06:40 am

Jem is basically asking why we all can't just get along with each other. After all, we all are the same on the inside. It is just our outward appearance that is different. Jem is finally starting to understand that there is prejudice in the world. He sees that people will discriminate you if you are the slightest bit different from them. Jem also understands that this is wrongdoing. I probably have felt this way before, but I do not remember a precise moment.

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Blaire Langeler
3/17/2013 12:00:38 pm

I think through this quote, Jem is trying to express that even though people are all the same and are created equal, some people have a sense of entitlement that makes them believe they are better than other. I think growing up going to a private school I definitely saw a lot of this because people would tell their kids because they went to a private school they were smarter and better than other kids who went to public schools. As their parents passed down these beliefs onto my peers, my classmates started to think they were better than anyone and act as though they were entitled to have whatever they wanted because their parents put them on such a high pedestal.

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Zane Carter
3/17/2013 12:05:58 pm

I believe what Jem is saying is that he doesn't understand why or even how there is so much hatred between people. As far as he knows, there is only one kind of humans, and that is just people. Black, white, or indifferent we are all the same. As far a Boo Radley goes, I think Jem is onto something. I do believe that Boo doesn't want to come out. He doesn't want to see all the hatred in the world. He is probably as confused as Jem is.

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Dylan Gregg
3/17/2013 01:19:30 pm

What Jem is trying to say is that we are all human. The same kind of folk. What does the color of our skin have to do with what color we are on the inside. It is our personality that people should see. I feel as if sometimes our skin is a barrier between people. Why people go out of their way to despise others is beyond me. We should only focus on what we have in common rather than how we are different.

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jorge brito
3/19/2013 11:03:17 am

I think this quote means that there's a lot of bad in the world, from discrimination to crime to other bad things. The world is filled with crime, injustice, prejudice, and murder. Jem means that Boo does not want to come out and be contaminated with all the society issues. He want to isolate from everyone because they are bad. There is always day were you think that it just isnt worth to talk people or even be close to some, some might be a bad influence and others just plain stupid. Jem feels like life isn't fair and that boo does good in staying inside .

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