This is my first and probably my last diary.
I have been posting comments since October of last year and lurking much longer than that.
Through the writing and comments of many of you I have experienced the highs and lows of our society---I have seen the very best and the very worst humanity has to offer.
But after seeing Mark Sumner’s diary “www.dailykos.com/...” I decided to speak my mind.
And say goodbye.
As a proud parent to 2 beautiful children I read the account of George Floyd’s last tragic moments on Earth and could not bear it any longer.
I could not---and can not---imagine my son in the same predicament.
My son is a happy, vivacious 13 year old.
He’s funny, thoughtful as anything, incredibly smart and very loving.
He is also a “high functioning” autistic.
Not a day goes by that I don’t worry about his well being. He is very caring about the world around him and is very quick to let you know.
My wife and I constantly tell him to mind his manners around people, and I have had the 2 talks with him---the birds and the bees and the more important how to interact with the Police during an incident.
As a Black male I always was under the impression that so long as you’re courteous and thoughtful your incident will come out fine, and during our talk I installed this in him---thinking that all would be well in the end. It was the same talk I had with my father many, many years ago.
Then came Mr. Floyd.
He did everything right during his incident: using “sir” and “officer”, Being polite as he could, even begging for his life at one point.
And still wound up dead.
I can safely say that I honestly don’t know how I’d cope or what I would do if my son wound up dead.
I can’t even contemplate the circumstances that would cause such an event to take place.
Then I spoke to a friend who lives in the UK.
We spoke about the current state of affairs there, as well as the challenges my children would face there: the schooling, lifestyle and other changes.
But the one overriding thought in my head: I wouldn’t need to bother about my son winding up dead because of overzealous cops.
So we are now sorting out leaving the US. My wife is a Brit (Scottish born, English raised) and we have previously lived there before coming back here.
I know that by my choosing to leave I am compounding the problem, and my children both wish to stay.
Heck, I would be telling myself to stay the course.
But my heart tells me that the life of my son outweighs anything else.
Farewell.
Friday, Jul 10, 2020 · 2:18:31 PM +00:00 · Obie Jay
UPDATE: After reading your heartfelt comments and discussing it with the Mrs. we have decided to hang on until the November elections, where we will then decide whether to remain or leave.
I myself have serious reservations with this but for the sake of the children we’ll wait it out...