Sunday Morning Short Essay:

[PCIntern]

So I'm re-reading Stephen King's "The Stand" (unabridged) and I was considering this morning, that the Evil as personified by The Walking Dude who is ensconced in Las Vegas with his minions is representative of today's Republican Party. Trading on fear via horrifying retribution for opposing the Leader, these followers are loyal to their Boss, but only up to a point. As the arc of his powers begins to descend, chinks in the armor begin to develop: twenty men go out on a work detail,but only eighteen return, the other two having fled the scene; the Boss loses control of one of his prize lieutenants who is in charge of the munitions; drug addiction and use continues, despite the penalty of crucifixion; and other frailties cause the eventual cataclysm and death of the evil-doers. Of course, the Devil Himself escapes to begin anew elsewhere,but temporarily at least,the civilized group living elsewhere is saved.

This Republican Party is held together by a semi-loose coalition of Evil-doers: Limbaugh and Beck among others are the spokespeople,but behind the scenes there are billionaires, industrial corporations, domestic and international forces who promote the ideologies. Occasionally,there is an internal catastrophe: a giant unchecked and possibly unstoppable oil leak, a collapse of an economy such as Greece's (or as your former President would say "The Grecian Economy), or even a little problem in a bathroom in an airport, or an alleged walk on the Appalachian Trail. These are considered by those in control but small hindrances since that which promulgates the information concerning each of these incidents is a wholly-owned subsidiary of our corporate Walkin' Dude. This 'damage control' mode is the Cure for the perceived 'Disease' known as the "Truth".

In the finale of "The Stand", the Evil-doers are consumed by their own acquisition and detonation of a nuclear device, metaphorically and actually destroyed by the same destructive engine which they would have used against the other survivors. The destruction of our own society via hydrocarbons, whether they be a monstrous 'spill' in the Gulf of Mexico, smog leading to lung disease, or even pesticides and additives to foods which in many cases are known to cause cancer in humans is analogous to the self-destruction of the Las Vegas colony. At this time, we are witnessing a significant event in the history of humankind and the Earth itself, and if do not recognize this and change direction quickly,then all of the Palin/Limbaugh/Beckian propaganda and lying will be as though a spider web were attempting to block a projectile launched from a sixteen-inch gun. They too, shall fall victim to the crippling of Mankind as we know it.

This hydrocarbon 'leak', this horrendous infraction of the stasis of the Biosphere, is potentially cataclysmic within the hemisphere if not the entire planet. It is conceivable that unchecked, this could flow for decades with results inconceivable to most of us, but imaginable to writers like King, who,many years ago, postulated the escape of a virus from an installation with 'maximum security' and most effectively wrote of the sequelae. We may be living through the environmentally-equivalent moment now.

[jotsy]

1. Similarities yes, but contradictions too.

Read the original when it was a new paperback, many of the moments and much of the momentum remain pretty vivid. I thought it ironic when Flagg's headquarters here in the 'real' world burned down not too many years later. I also have a recollection that his primary disciples came to view themselves as damned to be serving the dark side. No one seems to let that stop them here where it's real and it counts.

Super flu escaped its makers and swept through in a quick wave in what I call the thinning, whereas I see our real life equivalent is a Dottie in super slow mo.

"A vicious life sucking bitch from which there is no escape." Discoverer of the asteroid from the movie Armageddon.

[PCIntern]

2. I believe that in their heart of hearts,

many feel that they are in a vortex of self-destruction but cannot, for whatever reason, get out.

If you haven't read the unabaridged version, get it and re-read...it's almost an entirely different book. There was a vast difference in the thrust of the book...even the ending differs considerably. also "the Kid" wasn't in the original...

[jotsy]

3. I guess you're right about that, I'm tempted to ask if you mean Jake from the Dark Tower series.

But if you haven't read them, his name wouldn't be ringing any bells. Been on a non fiction kick for the last couple of years. I'll try to get after it over the summer.

[PCIntern]

4. No, unfortunately...

I used to be an avid reader, but the exigencies of WORK have left me little time or the ability to focus at night after a long day.

If I ever hit the lottery, I'll resemble the Burgess Meredith (a family friend before my time) character in that famous Twilight Zone...except I'll have a spare pair of glasses.

[jotsy]

5. It's a great bunch of books!

I'm a big fan of this kind of storytelling. If time is an issue, you might consider some of his collections. There are at least two short story books and as many novella size anthologies. Outside of the big series already mentioned, the bulk of my favorite tales come from those less and considerably less lengthy pieces.

Night Shifts
Skeleton Crew
Different Seasons
Four Past Midnight

[PCIntern]

6. Thanks! I'll take a look...

Appreciate the reccommendation...

PC