On re-reading The Stand; How the epics changes, and how it changes us...

[THISisWHEREiMAKEmySTAND]

[QUOTE=TheHardcase;317529]
It had to do with where I was in my own life when I re-read the book. The fact that the story is so rich with significant subtexts of this kind, and woven into to fabric of the tale in such a masterful way, speaks volumes about what an impactful story it is, and the genius of the author.

Truly, a book for all seasons, transcendent in the best definition of the word.

QUOTE]
Beautifully articulated. King is so gifted in his ability to translate one ficticous characters struggles into an investigation into the human condition itself. I love your point about Larry's own struggle, and how they reflected your own. To me, Kings work has often been a mirror in which I can evalute my growth, my strength and most of all my weaknesses. Great point, and you speak true for that I say Thankee.

[Checkman]

I'm feeling philisophical. Here's a little something I posted on ''The Stand'' discussion group on the nature of evil and choices. Which I think is probably the main theme or is it thesis(?) of the novel.

Perhaps evil can't die. Perhaps it can't because , like air and water, it's a necessary part of our exsistence. That whole Yin & Yang thing. Evil is a rather banal thing as well. In my career filed I come into contact with people who haved done "bad" things.

I've joked around with a murderer, gotten a cup of coffee for a career criminal (an accomplished con artist) shook hands with a three-time loser/bank robber who was going to be extradited back to California to serve the rest of his life in prison and comforted a pedophile. I've shook the hand of a death row inmate (three victims to his name) and in the same prison stood alone amongst thirty some convicts with my badge hanging around my neck. I have to admit that last experiece was not very comfortable. Actually I was a little scared, but don't tell my fellow officers.

So what is evil? Well often the people who perpetrate evil acts are not very interesting. Many of them are rather dull (not stupid) and perhaps lacking in insight. Often they are people who failed to control themselves whne the moment arrived. Of course there are those who are just "wrong" as well. Who here (I assume) finds the idea of having sex with a thirteen year old girl or boy to be attractive?

Those folks are wrong. There is no rehabilitation for them because when they were made something was left out. The same with the death row inmate that I met. The guy writes poetry and he's pretty good, but he killed one of his victims with a sock full of flashlight batteries. That is not an impulsive action. That's a stone cold killer.

Now as a cop I interact with those folks in a different setting. I'm coming form a position of strength and authority. Even out in the street I have a couple guns, a Taser, pepper spray, a baton, handcuffs and a radio to call for more officers. Big difference from what their victims experienced. I actually find many of the so called "evil" people to be rather boring and tiresome. Boo hoo what about me. Many of them are very self-centered.

SK did a good job of showing how evil is a choice and both simultaneously complicated and simple in The Stand. It is terrifying, tedious, repulsive, and attractive. Comes down to choices.

[Ranger_Strider]

This is something real, I'd love to get more info from the inside of this simple idea: that evil is merely the low swing of the amplitude of existence. That you cannot attain any higher purpose without support from the low end. That evil is the basement that upholds good.

I'm feeling philisophical. Here's a little something I posted on ''The Stand'' discussion group on the nature of evil and choices. Which I think is probably the main theme or is it thesis(?) of the novel.

Perhaps evil can't die. Perhaps it can't because , like air and water, it's a necessary part of our exsistence. That whole Yin & Yang thing. Evil is a rather banal thing as well. In my career filed I come into contact with people who haved done "bad" things.

I've joked around with a murderer, gotten a cup of coffee for a career criminal (an accomplished con artist) shook hands with a three-time loser/bank robber who was going to be extradited back to California to serve the rest of his life in prison and comforted a pedophile. I've shook the hand of a death row inmate (three victims to his name) and in the same prison stood alone amongst thirty some convicts with my badge hanging around my neck. I have to admit that last experiece was not very comfortable. Actually I was a little scared, but don't tell my fellow officers.

So what is evil? Well often the people who perpetrate evil acts are not very interesting. Many of them are rather dull (not stupid) and perhaps lacking in insight. Often they are people who failed to control themselves whne the moment arrived. Of course there are those who are just "wrong" as well. Who here (I assume) finds the idea of having sex with a thirteen year old girl or boy to be attractive?

Those folks are wrong. There is no rehabilitation for them because when they were made something was left out. The same with the death row inmate that I met. The guy writes poetry and he's pretty good, but he killed one of his victims with a sock full of flashlight batteries. That is not an impulsive action. That's a stone cold killer.

Now as a cop I interact with those folks in a different setting. I'm coming form a position of strength and authority. Even out in the street I have a couple guns, a Taser, pepper spray, a baton, handcuffs and a radio to call for more officers. Big difference from what their victims experienced. I actually find many of the so called "evil" people to be rather boring and tiresome. Boo hoo what about me. Many of them are very self-centered.

SK did a good job of showing how evil is a choice and both simultaneously complicated and simple in The Stand. It is terrifying, tedious, repulsive, and attractive. Comes down to choices.

[Checkman]

Thank you Ranger Strider. That post took some effort. I've got a college degree (history) but I'm not a "Deep" thinker. I tend to like talking about movies, firearms and discussing such topics as whether Fran and Stu should have stayed in Boulder instead of cutting out on their own at the end of The Stand. When you start to get into more abstract topics I have to break a sweat. But I do have some real-world experience with those folks who take the darker route. I find that I don't hate them or look down on them. They are people who made their choices. I'm just one of the folks who has to deal with them - as imperfect as that might be somebody has to do it. But they do provide contrast. A few of them have made me think about myself and there have been a couple times in the past few years when I've made a better choice because of them. So there you go.