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.1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmyz9Ret1Z
First, a bit of backstory. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuLKenoQQI
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.1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8nc0pVafb
Things weren't the best, but they were good enough.1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9uDPgB3qM
Then suddenly, those who went off the radar entirely suddenly come back, and that line of division is darkened. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjWy8rB6bj
Rumors spread, ideas are lodged into minds. The line darkens. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbAWis345G
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. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gFhhbWoMR
Then, tragedy strikes.1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv79Kre9l8
This is where the poem comes into play.1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3nAlgbUoi9
For reasons of protection, I will not be using real names. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq72Lzu9NEI
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. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLhwYNco4d
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. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYLgDejEJt
She can't go because she has to pay rent next week. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklH41LsScx
Next week is her birthday. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IJviekklj
She's always been selfish, and while it hurts, it was expected. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVL0BUt9As
The line darkens. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpnJb1lj2Y
Then, on Facebook, there's a post, a correspondence by my great uncle's own son and my aunt. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5W9tS7jeM
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..." 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlSacEDsjN
I'm sorry, but... what the fuck?1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWYEJDTeK0
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?1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoE7acf2B7D
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. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOO3oWQzV4
And you dare think that just because she's religious and her brother isn't that she doesn't keep in contact?1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGrUAXP0xs
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. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ABzA9X1N5
Now, I don't have my aunt or my cousin. My moms done dealing with all the stress and lies. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8Qn8pd8Gl
And I don't blame her.1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8u7MEGQ3vT
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. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrynrS1Mil3
This is true with everything.1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4swpAbpUV
My message: respect everyone, despite varied beliefs, despite skin or sexuality or anything else. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG0OJjQuev
Maybe that's idealistic, but it's a lesson I live by. 1044Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsemaHKvekH
and then Add to home screen.