some stand

When a government-run lab accidentally lets loose a deadly virus, most of the population of the world is wiped-out. Survivors begin having dreams about two figures: a mystical old woman, or a foreboding, scary man. As the story tracks various people, we begin to realize that the two figures exemplify basic forces of good and evil, and the stage is set for a final confrontation between the representatives of each. Those who are immune from the virus subsequently form into two camps. The first is lead by Mother Abigail and the second by Randall Flagg. Within a few months, it becomes apparent that those who support good will need to confront evil if they are to survive. (Rick Munoz) synopsis of “The Stand” by Stephen King.

With each passing day a new strain of a virus seeps through the veins of those who identify as the Core of the Republican/Tea Party releasing rhetoric and venom against Gay civil rights, women’s reproductive rights, the right for fair pay/ fair benefits, and the right to grow old with dignity. With each passing day a virus erupts from the mouths and actions of those elected officials proudly claiming to represent the Republican/Tea Party stressing Big Government intrusion in our bedrooms, doctors offices while restricting who we love, how we love, and how we maintain our health. With each passing day a line in the sand is drawn on the freedoms, equality, and respect toward some by those who either hear the Lord’s calling to hate, God’s whispers to discriminate,The Almighty’s shouts to persecute.

With each passing day, the definition of good and evil are being defined by those who refuse to respect the tenets of the Constitution but indulge in the religious bias of a Bible never left to fact but infused with fiction. With each passing day those who love to speak for God, but never bother to listen to his/her words insist that their morals are correct, and the values of those they deem less than are meaningless. With each passing day more Americans are the victims of less freedom and justice, access and equality.

With each passing day the rift of stated difference grows wider and the chance to bridge that gap less. With each passing day inclusion evaporates, exclusion exhilarates, and common cause is exasperated by denial and indulgence. With each passing day those who swear America is THEIR land of Christianity become abusive in action, confrontative with deed, and insist that they take a STAND against anything they refuse to understand.

For some reason a virus of indulgence, ignorance, and inaccurate fact have taken hold on a portion of the citizenry of this nation, providing them with the false belief they are soldiers of God fighting a war he never really started. For some reason the fear, loathing, hatred of a small body of Americans is running rampant and infecting the souls and backbones of politicians who suddenly want to become leaders of a nation that excludes and removes. Suddenly a self defined good is at war with a self defined bad and along the way the victims from women, to the LGBT community, laborers, poor and elderly are falling prey left to rot on a very vile vine.

What has happened to a nation like ours when the middle ground seems further away then moving left or right? What has happened to a country like ours when all fact is based on fiction, fear or fancy? What has happened to this place we call home when the only choice we seem to be faced with is take a STAND on my side or yours? Why is it so hard to STAND together?