How To Kill a Mockingbird spoke to me

To Kill a Mockingbird has left me disturbed by its content, amazed by the writing,and inspired by its message. It speaks to people in different ways. Certain parts of the book might stand out to different  people like the individual colors in a rainbow.
I found myself as I was reading, really disturbed by much of the content.  For example,one thing that stood out to me in the book was how Boo Radley was seen (well, not seen) and judged by other people. Over the years since this book was written, judgment hasn't really changed. It comes in many forms, from little things like the subtle judgment of a disproving mom scoffing at the son of another mom who refused to take the tutu off after playing dress-up  in preschool, to the disapproval of a president of a nation based on the color of his skin. Also I am disturbed  by all of the events of injustice surrounding Tom Robinson's trial leading up to his eventual death including all 17 shots that killed him.  All it takes is to watch the morning news to realize that To Kill a Mockingbird is as relevant as ever on the planet earth in 2010.
         On a different note, Harper Lee left me amazed  by her ability to weave such a wide variety of ideas characters and themes together into a book that has been voted the best novel of the century.
This book inspired me to look at things from another perspective.  It has challenged me to grow as a writer, and has stretched my brain relative to understanding and appreciating really good literature. How much more can a person pack on a page? There are multiple threads and meanings in every paragraph of the book where she manages to use all the elements of literature seemingly effortlessly into every other sentence.Through this book you see through the eyes the characters and it made me feel like I was standing in the courtroom as the twelve verdicts were being read, and inside Scout's ham costume looking out at the chaos and confusion of the dark figures in the night.
        Mostly, the novel means to me the start of lots of conversation about many important ideas and topics such as racism, gender roles, identity, class differences, assumption, intolerance, and fear.  Knowing that all these themes persist in this world 40 years after the first printing of this novel, and 80 years after the time setting in which it took place. There will be no shortage of conversation any time soon. I am inspired to be a part of getting to the bottom of this.