| Author: | Randall Laird | ISBN: | 9781301583478 |
| Publisher: | Randall Laird | Publication: | February 16, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition | Language: | English |
| Author: | Randall Laird |
| ISBN: | 9781301583478 |
| Publisher: | Randall Laird |
| Publication: | February 16, 2013 |
| Imprint: | Smashwords Edition |
| Language: | English |
Glory, NY is a factory town spawned by the auto industry and devastated by the 1970's recession. The Detroit-based parent corporation, sensing a financial opportunity in the 1980's AIDS outbreak, converts the faltering Glory plant from latex gaskets and seals to latex condoms and gloves. Targeting singles - straight and gay - a provocative ad campaign promotes recreational sex. Within the year, 'The Glory Rubber: Plain protection for the American Male' dominates the prophylactic industry - while the town, tax-starved and gutted by plant expansion, crumbles.
A local Baptist minister, anxious to make a name for himself, exploits resident's embarrassment over Glory's notoriety - forging the general discontent into a protest movement. A Virginia-based Mega Church, armed with DC lobbyists and media contacts, co-opts the mission and frames the condom controversey as a 'faith vs secularism' showdown. Conservative candidates, facing off in the 1984 elections, dutifully demonstrate their family values credentials by referencing the Glory crusade in stump speeches.
In the streets and homes of Glory, life-long friends and family members - polarized by the rhetoric of the zealots and pundits occupying their town - turn on one another. For an increasing number of residents, the condom represents all that's wrong with America.
Eager to reunite the community, a young teen unearths a time capsule that contains surprising artifacts from a local Korean War hero - including a pack of 30-year old government issue prophylactics. The revelation stuns citizens and effectively disbands the local anti-plant mission. Militant outsiders - intent upon reaping political profit from their investment in Glory - are left to consider more extreme tactics.
This is a story about the power of memory to enrich and to destroy lives. Institutional powers - corporate and religious - exploit authentic small town nostalgia with a narrow moral agenda. People's genuine values are reduced to political currency - with tragic results.
Glory, NY is a factory town spawned by the auto industry and devastated by the 1970's recession. The Detroit-based parent corporation, sensing a financial opportunity in the 1980's AIDS outbreak, converts the faltering Glory plant from latex gaskets and seals to latex condoms and gloves. Targeting singles - straight and gay - a provocative ad campaign promotes recreational sex. Within the year, 'The Glory Rubber: Plain protection for the American Male' dominates the prophylactic industry - while the town, tax-starved and gutted by plant expansion, crumbles.
A local Baptist minister, anxious to make a name for himself, exploits resident's embarrassment over Glory's notoriety - forging the general discontent into a protest movement. A Virginia-based Mega Church, armed with DC lobbyists and media contacts, co-opts the mission and frames the condom controversey as a 'faith vs secularism' showdown. Conservative candidates, facing off in the 1984 elections, dutifully demonstrate their family values credentials by referencing the Glory crusade in stump speeches.
In the streets and homes of Glory, life-long friends and family members - polarized by the rhetoric of the zealots and pundits occupying their town - turn on one another. For an increasing number of residents, the condom represents all that's wrong with America.
Eager to reunite the community, a young teen unearths a time capsule that contains surprising artifacts from a local Korean War hero - including a pack of 30-year old government issue prophylactics. The revelation stuns citizens and effectively disbands the local anti-plant mission. Militant outsiders - intent upon reaping political profit from their investment in Glory - are left to consider more extreme tactics.
This is a story about the power of memory to enrich and to destroy lives. Institutional powers - corporate and religious - exploit authentic small town nostalgia with a narrow moral agenda. People's genuine values are reduced to political currency - with tragic results.
