196: Lest They Not Be Forgotten — the Memorial Wall

The cleverness of the human mind, twisted by strategic jurisprudence, had made a holocaust possible even in this democracy. Of the 14 million Xenotians of their pre-holocaust demographic, only 56 remained.

A true democracy gets what it wants, and then it gets what it deserves--in this case, a populist leader who played on the fears and the us-vs-them political thinking at the heart of his agenda of nationalistic purism.

He had closed the borders to reverse the traffic. Complainers were given notice. Dissenters' identities were recorded. "Alternatives" were deported. And, of course, the over-14 million Xenotians, "processed..."

...to death.

Yet, reason returned.

The newest populist leader had stopped the Xenotian genocide. He then invited the 56 remaining to a special ceremony whereupon they would receive the first-ever Presidential Medal of Legacy, awarded to those suffering catastrophic persecution yet prevailing to carry on for their race, religion, or sexual preference.

The ceremony was to coincide with the dedication of a planned "Wall of Honor," memorializing the millions who had fallen so tragically in the previous iteration of national "destiny."

The remaining Xenotians encircled its foundation site where the cement for the grand wall's base would be poured. At one end, a cement truck was positioned and adorned with a golden button a selected Xenotian patriarch was invited to push ceremoniously, beginning the flow of cement over the rebar lining the foundation's bottom.

After the President had completed draping the medals on these brave, resilient and special invitees, he approached the dais next to the industrial concrete truck and the large sign depicting how the completed wall would look.

It was a proud moment for both President and Xenotians.

"Our long national nightmare is over," he said. "In covenant with you--the remaining, resilient, and crucial--we dedicate this wall."

He positioned the patriarch at the golden button and signaled the photographer, who framed the panorama from that golden button to the other end of the standing medal-winners. The photographer raised his hand countdowning to the photograph, which also signaled the strafing that began. The Xenotians fell into their commemorative mass grave.

Once this part of the ceremony was over, the President himself pushed the golden button, sealing the excavation.

_________

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

For Sunday, July 14, Day 196 of the 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge

366 WORDS (without A/N)

Title-accompaniment photo was AI-generated but the admonition wasn't.

ABOUT THIS STORY:

Don't think it couldn't happen again. As above, I repeat...

A true democracy gets what it wants, and then it gets what it deserves. — the Author

THE CHALLENGE GRINDS ON, 366 WORDS AT A TIME:

There are currently three surviving Vocal writers still participating in the insane 2024 Story-a-Day Challenge:

• L.C. Schäfer, challenge originator

• Rachel Deeming

• Gerard DiLeo (some other guy)

Read them. Support them. Pray for them. And re-read you history.

"It can't happen here..." — Frank Zappa