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.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlM6wL0QYq0
First, a bit of backstory. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jBADHWPwv
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.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmEie0LjNy
Things weren't the best, but they were good enough.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFA6PliWOQ
Then suddenly, those who went off the radar entirely suddenly come back, and that line of division is darkened. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLRVzoa94b
Rumors spread, ideas are lodged into minds. The line darkens. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSfb19c6zY
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. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4ieJb2TsF
Then, tragedy strikes.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdMR3HDhWW
This is where the poem comes into play.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk1j11VDv3
For reasons of protection, I will not be using real names. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlL6F8h6Ga
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. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4OaeyGyT7
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. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2buJQItDid
She can't go because she has to pay rent next week. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVOfhwX9JX
Next week is her birthday. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkMO2sM8QZ
She's always been selfish, and while it hurts, it was expected. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqmaY5mp8m
The line darkens. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpi51vonBgd
Then, on Facebook, there's a post, a correspondence by my great uncle's own son and my aunt. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaE8knv6Jj
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..." 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmtgkNYZH5
I'm sorry, but... what the fuck?1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME5XUV4cpV
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?1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVZnd4W1I9
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. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCQBcCU1Gq
And you dare think that just because she's religious and her brother isn't that she doesn't keep in contact?1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNyMGgb4Kth
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. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSgBr1iTmS
Now, I don't have my aunt or my cousin. My moms done dealing with all the stress and lies. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFHQ1ZHddVw
And I don't blame her.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomHlhpcd3a
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. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vCvlQZGMr
This is true with everything.1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe86NCYJ3iq
My message: respect everyone, despite varied beliefs, despite skin or sexuality or anything else. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYKUsUclT6
Maybe that's idealistic, but it's a lesson I live by. 1189Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz532yhVx9E
