Authors commentary
(sorry it was such a bad story)
Basically my story is an allegory for the war in Iraq.
In case you didn't relise here are who the characters represent in real life:

Dekin: George Bush, a bit of a stereotype of George and probably not much like what he's like in real life. I considered putting in religon as another reason as to why Dekin didn't like Homer, but i decided that that would be a little too much of a similarity and so i decided to leave it out. Instead Dekin and Greg use loyalty to the gang as an argument to keep members doing what they want, instead this is purely an allegory for the patriotism George Bush used as an excuse to help gainbacking for Iraq.

Greg: John Howard (big suprise), again I have stereotyped him into your typical mean bully character, I know that in real life John Howard has been charasmatic enough to be elected PM consecutively for over a decade, but for the purpose of the story it was easier to make the characters black and white. The fact that although Dekin's fight withHomer has nothing to do with Greg and yet Greg gave him full unquestioned support as well as handing the "ammunition" to the other gang members ( although he doesn't throw the eggs, that would be incrimminating).

The Ventriliquists: Both the American and the Australian public, orignally clueless as to why they go after Homer, they soon believe everything they are told by their leader and willingly agree to help give out retribution, this willingness however, is short lived and eventually they begin to question why they are trying to hurt Homer and while some still remain illogically faithful to Dekin and Greg others leave and some even go so far as to tell Greg's parents.

Homer: Iraq, though Dekin only has a very left of field connection with Homer, he uses Jenah as an excuse to exact his own punishment on Homer because of personal dislike. The relationship between Dekin, Jenah and Homer represents the relationship between the countries America, Afghanistan and Iraq. Not quite literally of course, but in the sense that although Afghanistan was the country responsible for the September 11 attacks on America, America directed it's military against Iraq.

Jenah: Afghanistan, but only to the degree that Jenah(Afghanistan) was the first to harm Dekin(USA) and yet the brunt of the world affairs and media turned instead to the unrelated party of Homer(Iraq).

Dekin senior's father, the General: Represents America's history of racism and the early 20th century outlook as a superior society above most of the rest of the world. The fact that he is a general also references america's once-past-now-present desire to police the world and particularly "inferior" countries.

Dekin senior and Marina: America's golden years after the second world war, during this time America was considered one of, if not the most, poweful and forward country in the world, although this can still be said today there are currently many proffessionals world wide who believe this rain of success, due to current world affairs and the falling $US, is coming to an end.