Prologue - Part 1

For years now, I have been enthralled with "end of times" fiction - I think it began with the original publishing of "The Stand", when it was first out. Of course there were many versions of the theme prior to that, and so many since that the niche has become mainstream. I personally read hundreds of stories per year that fall in this category, from books to blogs, short stories to anthologies. Few are perfect for me, as I am a realist - you could call me a pessimist, and not be far off. Of course, what began as an escape in my youth has matured, just has the envisioning of "The Apocalypse" has gone from fantasy to perhaps possible, in the least.
I'll apologize in advance, and admit that my vision of "The End" is already under way, if only in its infancy. Our society as a whole - as a world - is divided. Some see it as a political division - the left and the right. Liberal and conservative. Democrat and Republican. Others see the division as socioeconomic - the invariable rich and poor. The "haves" and the "have nots". And still others divide us along ideological lines - usually with religion.
But in "The End", it really comes down to "Good vs. Bad" or perhaps, "Good vs. Evil". And, as always, the perception of good and bad/evil all depends on where you stand, sometimes literally.
Of course, only a very few would associate themselves with the "bad" element. Even if clearly defined as "bad", most people would view their actions as good or indifferent. If you question my reasoning, I'll offer a few vantage points...
We'll start with the lowest of the low - a rapist. Most rapists believe they are entitled to what they took, and if not, they see themselves as the "punisher". The entitlement theory leads to indifference, as the "punisher" theory leads to the rapist to believe he/she is "good" and the victim is "bad". Now, I'm sure there is an element of known rapists that know they are bad, and just don't care, but from what I know, the majority seem to have a justification for their actions. Remember that word..... justification.....
How about a despot ruler - say the late Saddam Hussein? Can you imagine that he put his people through the horrors they were subject to, and he accepted that he was "bad"? Or do you believe that the "Butcher" was just an out of control madman? The fact is that Hussein was a revolutionary prior to his succession to power - you might not agree with his morals in the later years, but he was on the "right" side in the beginning, or so he thought. Once in power, he had to maintain that power. If that meant exterminating the Kurds, so be it. Of course the Kurds were/are revolutionaries in their own "right".
I guess I can't leave the current administration out of the equation... I'll never forget the posters that came out around the primaries - Obama with his head bowed, as if in submission, with a backdrop of (ironically) primary colors and the word "Hope". But even if you were a volunteer staffer for McCain/Palin, can you really say BHO is "bad"? Or does he have the best interest of the nation in mind, and the means to an end are what they are? Bush43 asked us to give up some freedom for our collective security, and Obama is asking us to relinquish the same for some of the same reasons. And health care, not to mention other causes... 
Of course, removing your shoes prior to boarding an a commercial aircraft is a far cry from the Feds going door to door, confiscating guns and knives, as some suspect is inevitable. But even if/when that happens, does that make the perpetrator "bad"? Its being done for your safety, right? Maybe some people really do believe that if we shred the Constitution that we won't be capable of harming each other anymore....