I just wrote and published a poem to add on to one of my collections called "Bolding the Line". I suppose this is my explanation of that poem.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWJ7roPe4Y
First, a bit of backstory. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzarbFVYql
My family is divided by one thing: religion. On one side, there are the religious members, good people undoubtedly, who not once have tried to force down their beliefs into another's throat, not in my presence, nor have said anything prejudice or hateful about those who do not follow their beliefs. On the other side, there are those who are against religion, most of whom I'ven't personally met, but those I have were still good people. They had their reasons for not believing, and I respected that. We were family after all. We have to love each other, even if we do not agree. That's how it's always been, minding our own business, being respectful, and the children of the family all friends.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1hsqR6TyI
Things weren't the best, but they were good enough.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVThy7PCDr7
Then suddenly, those who went off the radar entirely suddenly come back, and that line of division is darkened. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXTCvrBjss
Rumors spread, ideas are lodged into minds. The line darkens. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡageSCkpxLS
Personally, I do not pay attention because, as I have said, I do not know most of the people on the other side, mostly due to distance in where they live and where I live. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpuCUivEhH
Then, tragedy strikes.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBDYQbZ8CF
This is where the poem comes into play.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTfiuwUqyD
For reasons of protection, I will not be using real names. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NiokstqFC
Some weeks ago, my grandma informed us that her brother -- my great uncle -- had a stroke, and just yesterday, she told us that he had gone blind as a result. Everyone comes to the conclusion that he will not last long, and even he has said that he has given up hope. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6bUd6gTCK
That's when my mom -- bless her heart -- decided that we should try and get him cross-country to see some of his family before he is gone. She tells my grandma this; grandma's on board. My dad (who is on the other side) is supportive and helps plan the route. Then my mom tells my aunt. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehQ5Ee3RIK
She can't go because she has to pay rent next week. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XAk8obIWS
Next week is her birthday. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6NXla9R46
She's always been selfish, and while it hurts, it was expected. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4seyN8Juq
The line darkens. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfRFvuvFB9
Then, on Facebook, there's a post, a correspondence by my great uncle's own son and my aunt. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVYhCFgwt4
I will not say it word-for-word, but it was not an expression of grief over the dying old man. More of it was about bashing on my grandma for "not caring", "not keeping in contact with her own brother because their heathens". That she didn't "give an f..." 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAuo7xoAMx
I'm sorry, but... what the fuck?1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqY6KIzgrTc
The man's dying. Who gives a damn about religion? The religious ones aren't even talking about that. They just want to make sure he goes happily, gets to see his family. Yet all you think about is bashing on my grandma because of it?1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ277fOTCmPi
It was my grandma who bothered to tell us of his ailment, who wanted to do something, who's currently canceling a CAT scan to go on the long trip with her brother. She's stressing like hell over it. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4gkmC1l37
And you dare think that just because she's religious and her brother isn't that she doesn't keep in contact?1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB04R2Xhf0
Things were fine. Then lies are ingrained into the mind, and suddenly, the family doesn't just have a line, but they acknowledge it. And hell, there's nothing worse than acknowledging differences and divisions. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYeHO9vw3N
Now, I don't have my aunt or my cousin. My moms done dealing with all the stress and lies. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OoHlaWvkF
And I don't blame her.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIrajP8Y9v
Some might argue it's religion that causes all these problems. Yes, it does cause problems, but it's so much more than that. It's a lack of respect. You don't approve of something? That's fine. That doesn't mean you can just tear rifts into the family. A lack of respect brings about hate. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdANshoBHT
This is true with everything.1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjeMAtXna2
My message: respect everyone, despite varied beliefs, despite skin or sexuality or anything else. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlV11Qkpfl
Maybe that's idealistic, but it's a lesson I live by. 1202Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RQBZrNb2R
