1. How has your involvement in the Tinker v. Des Moines case affected the choices you have made throughout life?

For one thing, I have seen for myself that you never know who will have the "last word". We have recently seen the southern Baptist church apologizing for their support of slavery, Catholics and other Christians apologizing for their role in the Nazi holocaust, and the American government apologizing to the American Indians. Eventually, I think that apologies will be made for the way that gay people have been treated, too. So, I am less influenced by what may be a popular choice, because I know that popular choices do not always stand the test of history. [Mary Beth Tinker]

2. From a personal perspective, what was your greatest loss and greatest gain from your involvement in the Tinker v. Des Moines case?

Tinker v. Des Moines reinforced my belief that one person can make a difference on our planet Earth. I developed a new appreciation for the values of peace, freedom, equality, and spirituality, that my parents exposed me to and allowed me to explore on my own. [Chris Eckhardt]

3. Did your involvement in the armband demonstration and subsequent Supreme Court case in any way affect your professional future? Did it make it more difficult/easier to find a job or get into college?

No, the case did not adversely affect either my college education or my employment. It was not related to the armband case, but I did become disillusioned with our society during the years of the Vietnam war. That war, along with the nuclear arms race, convinced me not to expect that society would automatically be mature or sane. I "dropped out" in the sense that I abandoned formal education, and decided to educate myself, largely through reading and traveling. One of the things I learned was that education is different from merely receiving a degree, and that a degree is no guarantee against being closed-minded. [John Tinker]

4. Has contact over the years with those who were involved in your wearing the black armbands to school, suspension, and subsequent court case healed old "wounds" and replaced hard feelings with understanding?

In my particular case, I did not have especially stressful relationships with the school administration after wearing the armband. Even as the principal of my high school told me that I could not return to school with the armband on, he did so with a certain amount of respect. And I did not disrespect him for doing what he thought he had to do, even though I thought he was wrong. Several teachers did abuse me somewhat because of my political beliefs, but I never had any further contact with them after I graduated from high school. On the other hand, one teacher was especially supportive. At high school reunions, people are friendly to me, and seem to be proud of the armband case. [John Tinker]