I started writing Rabbletown: Life in These United Christian States of Holy America before 1984. I had a notion that when
1984 rolled around, there would be a lot of attention given to George Orwell's
famous novel by that name and that I might get some attention for mine. I'd
call it "2084." Nice idea, but the novel didn't get written. I had
envisioned a long, complex novel that would create the characters that showed
how the religious right gained political power over the United States and what
they did with it.
Never been good at long, complex stories. So I cut to the
chase and went right to the year 2084.
Then I created a manageable set of characters and let them
live their lives in an environment where pastor governors and the Pastor
President rule with a Bible in each fist and the computer in your hovel. But I
wrote myself into a corner with Bobby. It took me a while to realize I had to let
Bobby perform his miracles.
Best explanation of what Bobby is all about comes from an
early review by one of Amazon's top 500 reviews:
I expected a few things when I started reading this
book. I expected to be amused by a satirical take on the Fundamentalists that
are doing their utmost to take over this country - sadly, it is difficult to
make amusing, because the idea of Fundamentalists taking over this country and
turning it into an Evangelical theocracy is absolutely terrifying. I expected
to be outraged by the excesses of Fundamentalist leaders who grow rich, while
the common people live in poverty. What I did not expect was to be profoundly
moved. I did not expect goose bumps or a profound feeling of
"rightness" to come over me while reading.
12-year-old Bobby Crowley is special. He has an
amazing memory for Bible verses, and a strangely wise way of saying just the
right thing at just the right time. And he has been carefully watching the
formation of a significant alignment of stars in the sky, including a new star
that just appeared three months ago, which are forming a cross. On a Friday
like any other Friday - one that would see the stoning to death of a 6 people -
Bobby takes his place among the great religious leaders of the world when he
steps forward and speaks the words "Let he who is without sin cast the
first stone" and in the process saves the life of a beatific young woman:
he gains a following and begins performing miracles, and providing proverbs of
hope, peace and love.
Caught in his wake are a number of people; they go
into Rabbletown, the slums of Topeka, where Bobby spreads the way of peace,
love, acceptance and kindness, rather than the hate and manipulations used by
those in power. And in a world where the leaders all emulate the practices and
beliefs of the disgusting Fred Phelps, those sorts of teachings are
threatening. Bobby and all who believe in him and his miracles are declared
anathema and the Inquisition is sent after them.
This book does two things: it exposes the horror of a
theocratic, fascist Evangelical Fundamentalist power structure, and it provides
hope for redemption for anyone who chooses to live a truly good life, and
follow the basic teachings that so many modern-day dogmatics seem to forget are
the only two rules laid down by Christ - you know, the one Christians are
supposed to emulate? 1) love each other and treat others like you would like
them to treat you; 2) love the Higher Power of Creation, in whatever form you
choose to comprehend It. This book - reading this book - will cause a profound
shift in perception and I believe, honestly, that the world would be a better
place if everyone followed the example set by Bobby. We all need to become
Bobbites. Read this book and see if you don't find these truths to be as
profound as I did.
