Okay, first off,
I want to apologize right from the start to all English teachers out there for
what I’m about to write. Please remember that I am a social studies, primarily
psychology guy who loves English, reading and writing, and not nearly remotely close
to being as good as English teachers are in analyzing literature.
That being said
. . .
One of my
favorite novels that I find fascinating is the novel Lord Of The Flies.
I like the story of and the conflict between the characters Ralph, Piggy, Simon
and Jack. An airplane carrying the boys from a military school crash on a
deserted island and somehow, they have to survive. Ralph finds a large conch
and uses it to call the boys together. Because he is the one who called the
boys, he is elected the leader though he is reluctant to accept it.
Piggy, a
nickname based upon his girth, is his advisor. He is the source of jokes and
the kids make fun of him. He wears glasses, which are used to start and
maintain a signal fire. He wants rules and order and is Ralph’s unofficial
advisor. Jack, leader of the choir, is the hunter. At first, he works with
Ralph, but before long, he, along with a boy, Roger, assume more power and
control. Simon, described as a dreamer, is concerned with the protection of the
little ones, the younger kids, along with building the fire and huts for
sleeping.
It doesn’t take
long before things go wrong.
Jack assumes
more power. Because he is the leader of the hunters, he and his group are the
primary food source. The boys develop a fear of “the beast” and Jack promises
to kill it. More and more of the boys come over to Jack’s side, leaving Simon,
Piggy and Ralph to fend for themselves. Roger drops a boulder killing Piggy and
smashing the conch. Like a crown or scepter, it is a symbol of power, given to
the person who wants to address the group. Simon is beaten to death during a
frenzied dance during a feast, leaving only Ralph. Eventually there is a hunt-
for Ralph- but before he is murdered, they are rescued by a passing ship.
There is a lot
more to the story, but for my purposes, this suffices. In terms of theme, taken
directly from Wikipedia (yes, I went there, sorry!) “. . . the central theme is
the conflicting human impulses toward civilization and social organization—living
by rules, peacefully and in harmony—and toward the will to power.” And I might
add, taking into account individuality.
Why all this?
I watched the
primaries and I watched the election. I was active on social media and glued to
the TV. I wanted a particular candidate to win. There were, and are, promises
for better wages, for better living conditions. There were, and are, promises
to clean up this mess we call government. There was blame placed on this group
or that group. Name calling. Mocking. Trash talking. Threats. All of it. I was
pretty disgusted, actually. Still am. Decency and niceness went out the window.
In the end, voters voted and people chose our next president. That’s the way it
works.
To me, the past
half-year, maybe longer, along with the whole election reminded me of the Lord
Of The Flies. You have Ralph, Simon, Piggy, and Jack. I’ll let you decide who
should play which character.
I’m not very
happy right now. Sad, really. Probably a bit frightened. Yes, the sun rose the
next morning. (Actually, it rained and was cloudy for most of the day.) The sun
rose this morning, too. Life goes on and so will we.
But . . .
We have a
choice, you and I. For our kids and for each other. Like Lord Of The Flies
there are lessons to be learned. There is right and there is wrong and
sometimes, especially lately, I feel the line between them is blurred. I yearn
for a day when there is tolerance and acceptance. I want very badly for a day
when humbleness and kindness and lifting up and reassurance are how we are
judged and defined, as a country and as individuals. I long for a day when we
are more together and united, rather than divided. I want very much to have
open, honest and sincere dialogue rather than shouting down someone because of
his or her belief. And, rather than building walls to separate, perhaps we
build bridges in order to come together instead. That would be nice, wouldn't
it?
I will work to
do my part, big or small, as best I can. I owe it to you and I owe it to the
kids, but ultimately, I owe it to myself. Can I ask the same of each of you?
Something to think about . . .
Live Your Life,
and Make A Difference!
To My Readers:
Please feel free
to connect with me at:
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at @jrlewisauthor
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at: https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author
If you like
Thriller/Mystery fiction, check out what other readers have said about my
novels.
Stolen Lives
“Joseph Lewis
has created a cast of characters that you grow to care about. Their story is
filled with twists and turns that keep you reading. When the book ends you will
be left anticipating the next one! This was a story I could not put down!” “I am really glad I happened to see this
Trilogy while looking through my Kindle unlimited series. Great strong characters,
especially George and Brett. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Started Taking Lives and immediately turned the pages to get to Stolen Lives.”
Two thirteen
year old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of
FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they’ll end up like all the others-
dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. And the possibility
exists that one of his team members might be involved. http://bit.ly/Stolen-Lives-JLewis
Shattered Lives
“I couldn’t put
it down, a really good book!” “Great book! I can't wait for next one!” “This
book is excellent. The whole series is definitely worth your time.” “Expertly
written. I ended up buying all the books in the series and am waiting eagerly
for the final installment "Splintered Lives."
Six men escaped
and are out for revenge. The boys, recently freed from captivity, are in danger
and so are their families, but they don’t know it. The FBI has no clues, no
leads, and nothing to go on and because of that, cannot protect them. http://bit.ly/Shattered-Lives-J-Lewis
Splintered Lives
“Engaging
characters you care about. A story that is fast-paced and holds your attention
to the point you cannot put it down. Great finish to a great series.”
A 14 year old
boy has a price on his head, but he and his family don’t know it. Their family
vacation turns into a trip to hell. Out gunned and outnumbered, can this boy
protect his father and brothers? Without knowing who these men are? Or how many
there are? Or when they might come for him? http://bit.ly/Splintered-Lives-J-Lewis
Taking Lives
“Great book by
Joseph Lewis. Many twists and turns. Fasted paced.” “Couldn’t put the book down.” “Great story can't wait to read the next
one!” “Great book! I really enjoyed it. Good author!” “Each character is
developed thoroughly, igniting the reader's interest and stirring emotions. The
frustration of the detective flows to the reader. The young boys are
endearing.”
FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search
for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of
the country. Even though they don’t know one another, the lives of FBI
Kelliher, 11 year old Brett McGovern, and 11 year old George Tokay are separate
pieces of a puzzle. The two boys become interwoven with the same thread that
Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course
and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as each search for a way
out. http://bit.ly/Taking-Lives-JLewis
