#gcreed

SHAUN: Good evening, I’m Shaun Cleary, here with X-Men member, Dr. Jean Grey-Summers. Joining us via satellite is Friends of Humanity leader, Grace Creed. Thank you both for your time.

JEAN: It’s a pleasure to be here.

GRACE: Yes, thank you for inviting me back, Mr. Cleary.

SHAUN: In the wake of a local incident in which residents of the five boroughs were temporarily affected by an experimentation gone wrong out of The Baxter Building, people have become increasingly more vocal about laws being put in place to prevent, or at the very least, to reduce the probability of incidents like this occurring again. For those watching who may not be familiar about the proposition--which has been confirmed to be included on the November ballot--if voted into law, this will mean that teams such as The Avengers, The X-Men, the Fantastic Four, and possibly members of SHIELD will no longer be recognized as heroic teams or organizations. The assemblance for their commonly known acts, especially from the aforementioned three teams would be considered unlawful regardless of intent and they would be facing fines and jail time if they were to engage. Furthermore, the proposition would require that all residents of the state of New York register themselves, identifying their status as homosapien, a mutant or dissimilar homosapien, or an augmented homosapien or superhuman as the term we have more commonly used. Those identified as a mutant or a superhuman will be required to describe their mutation or mutations, or their augmented abilities as a superhuman. Falsifying information is punishable by law for jail time and/or the payment of a fine. Propositions such as this are not new here in America or in other parts of the world. Similar laws have been proposed around the nation and overseas in the UK, and a few third world countries have already enacted their own versions of this with more severe consequences against super-teams, as well as individual mutants and superhumans. Are you both aware of this, and were you aware of this proposition and the support and protests stirring right here in New York City?

JEAN: Yes, I am.

GRACE: Absolutely.

SHAUN: Dr. Grey, a recent poll of residents across the state shows a 52% and 46% split with the majority calling for government regulation on mutants and superhumans by way of a registration and the disbandment of heroic teams. As previously stated, there are mutant and superhuman teams and individuals already working for the government--SHIELD agents, members of The Avengers, and The Fantastic Four all have direct connections to the government and they have, at times, made mistakes. The Fantastic Four have are the most recent example of this and according to SHIELD, they're currently being held accountable for it. Should that accountability be enough for the public, or are people right to demand more from those who’ve been dubbed heroes? And what’s to be said of groups like the X-Men who aren’t as closely affiliated with the government?

JEAN: The X-men have always been here to be a part of the solution, not the problem. The same goes for The Avengers, who are friends of ours and were originated by the same government that would be disbanding them under this proposition were it put into law, never mind some of their members aren't mutants or superhumans at all. The Fantastic Four agreed to work with the government since their accident, and to my knowledge, they have continued to do so to this day. It’s why they’re in SHIELD’s custody and aren’t resisting. It’s why Dr. Richards was working to remedy his own mistake.

GRACE: Clearly the non-humans have been the problem and have caused the most damage. And SHIELD and whatever other branches of the government that they and the Avengers operate under are doing a poor job regulating these "heroes". It's vigilantism--a direct slap in the face of the men and women in uniform who took oaths to abide by the law, to operate within the law and to enforce it. We can no longer passively or actively allow people to decide if their own volition when is the time to play heroics.”

JEAN: Is that what you tell the families of the next one hundred thirty-three people who lose their lives the next time Loki plans an invasion, or the twenty-eight victims of the next Hydra bombings, or the hostages plucked from their homes and jobs by the same terrorist group? It doesn't take a mutant or a superhuman to set up a bomb or snatch a civilian off of the street, but it just might be a superhuman or a mutant who's the one to make sure that fewer people, if anyone at all would be out of harm's way.

GRACE: It's what I tell the millions of citizens watching right now who are sick of being caught in the middle of dissimilars and augmented people trying to do what they think is good for others by playing hero, and those who experiment for whatever selfish agenda they have. Enough is enough.

JEAN: You really feel you're the best representative of law abiding citizens? Your organization, Friends of Humanity has a track record of accusations, arrests and indictments for hate crimes yet you feel it's every mutant and superhuman who needs to be, "brought to heel" as you've previously stated?

GRACE: You're citing outdated incidents, Grey.

SHAUN: If I may--

JEAN: Pardon, Mr. Cleary, but a twenty-fourteen arrest is outdated, Ms. Creed?

GRACE: Nothing came of that arrest. It's a new day and I do feel I speak for those who want better accountability and more reliable safety from the city and country that should be protecting it. Today. Being a mutant or an experiment doesn't automatically qualify you to protect us all and furthermore, it might surprise you to learn that there are some like you who agree with me and others like me.

JEAN: It doesn't surprise me anymore than it might surprise you to know that there are people who aren't mutants or superhumans who don't share your position. People who value the skills of extraordinary individuals and teams and the risks they take because they want to assist in ways that everyday first responders might not be capable.

GRACE: But at what cost? Do you know how many people were hospitalized these past few weeks, thanks to the so-called Mr. Fantastic and his team? Do you know how many businesses have had to close because people were wielding powers that they had no control over? People in this very city have been traumatized, having been exposed against their free will to things they knew nothing about. And because Dr. Richards happened to finally managed to correct his devastating failure, we're all supposed to just move on with our lives as though we shouldn't expect another major epidemic? No! No, more Ms. Grey--

JEAN: Dr. Grey. And I never said we should act as though there isn’t discord that need addressing. I can only speak for myself and The X-Men at this time in saying that tactical measures could be improved upon when possible and the lines of communication should to be stronger between the government agencies and their agents. The local government and its people can decide where they stand with local vigilantes, but your position is blanketed and extreme to say the least.

GRACE: Perhaps it’s past time for more extreme measures to be taken to ensure better protection for the majority.

JEAN: What does this proposition do to protect people against The Brotherhood of Mutants? Or Hydra? Or The Morlocks? They’re gangs and organizations as well and teams like The X-Men, The Avengers and SHIELD were formed in direct response to the larger two groups. Will The Brotherhood, The Morlocks and Hydra then be allowed to initiate attacks whenever they please, forcing innocent people to hope that the everyday first responders would be enough? And what does this proposition do for mutants and superhumans out there who have remained neutral? They might not oppose your radical group’s blatant opposition to them, but they also might not have an interest to be an active hero, or criminal for that matter. You really believe it’s better to force them to make their abilities or their mutation known in order to supposedly make other people feel better protected?

GRACE: Yes I do. If they weren’t part of the problem before, there’s no reason for them to change that just because whatever it is they can do would be documented by the government.

JEAN: How do you think the government would be able to document a group like, say, The Brotherhood? If you honestly believe that they would willingly comply just because the law says so, you don’t understand them at all.

GRACE: That sounds like a threat, Ms. Grey--

SHAUN: I’m going to interrupt for just a moment. To be clear Ms. Creed, you don’t worry about legitimate threats from Hydra or The Brotherhood, or that ‘outing’ people for a lack of better terms might not provoke them to take arms or become part of a problem that you’re claiming this proposition would help prevent?

GRACE: Actions always lead to consequences, Mr. Cleary--good or bad. We would be able to take more preventative measures if we knew what was out there. Keeping secrets and letting certain individuals think they’re above the law is dangerous. We’ve been proven that time and time again right here in New York City, and elsewhere around the state and the country. Someone needs to set an example and New York has the opportunity to do so with this proposition.