1/ So, #SantaFeSchoolShooting happened just up the road a piece from where I live. After each and every one of these, me and my husband (who is British), sit down and have a brief chat. It runs pretty much like this:
2/ "If we move back the UK, we will never have to worry about sending our kids to school." Brutal, but true. While there is still some gun violence in the UK; most of it is related to crime, those associated with crime, etc. They don't target kids.
3/ We will have the NHS again. Neither of us are getting any younger and we're bound to run into the necessity of more medical care as we age.
4/ I'm not sure American values are really the same any more. These days crass commercialism seems more rife, principles mean less, the value of human life seems pretty low.
5/ Maybe it's the state we're in? (We're in a Southern, red state.) No. Even moving elsewhere probably wouldn't solve the gun violence issues. It's not just schools. It's concerts, cinemas, public gatherings.
6/ It's also the corruption. We've slid down a grade in the democracy index. PACs run our representatives on a state and federal level. I have to confess when I left the USA in 1995, things were on their way here, but they were not this bad.
7/ I'm dreadfully aware that MOST families in the USA do NOT have this option. TBH, most of what's making us hesitate is the fact we're waiting to see if my husband is granted US citizenship and the costs. The GBP has always been higher in value than the USD.
8/ One thing I have determined though is even if we DO move abroad, I will maintain my right to vote overseas and I WILL vote in every election still. I'll track it online and chase the embassy in London around if I have to to manage it.
9/ I will never give up my American citizenship; I will vote. That's one thing this administration has guaranteed. I've gone from a voter to an activist and I won't be going back to sleep any time soon.
10/ It's just...I will do anything I have to, to protect my children. That includes taking a hit on the family fortunes and moving away from a society that will not protect its members. All it takes is once and I will lose somebody precious and that terrifies me. /Fin
