Some friends of ours are, all of a sudden, moving to Canada. (One of them is originally from Canada.) They got tired of the neo-Nazis, the death threats relating to MLK Day, the endless Confederate flags, and the tireless pro-Trump-ism of most of the students here.
It came as a bit of a shock to me. If these people, who were so invested in making our community better, are just up and leaving, should I leave? Can I really raise my children here, and do I want to? Is it better to give up and move away?
Separately, this morning, someone told me she doesn't ever vaccinate her children against influenza because it's not like it kills anyone. (As opposed to.... measles? Which only doesn't kill people because there are so few cases, of course.) Another person told me about how an osteopath cured her of her viruses with activated charcoal.
On days like these I fantasize about moving back to Cold City, where there are, possibly, more people who use their brains.
There are idiots everywhere. I live in one of the world's great university cities, and last week I was told that because there was a frost in November, "global warming" was obviously rubbish. You can run from them, but they'll always be there...
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think somewhere larger I would at least know a larger *total* of sensible people.
DeleteI have a friend whose five year old died from the flu last year. Feel free to pretend she's your friend and use Bennett as an example. That makes me so mad!
ReplyDeleteI was literally speechless with rage. But I made my bio students spend an hour looking at cause of death statistics, including flu. I had it last year and was deathly ill! It's very dangerous! Gaaaaaah.
DeleteThis is a constant thought in the back of my mind as well. Especially since we've just passed the magic age at which we are no longer "young" and in 10 years will really be no longer young for job finding/immigration purposes.
ReplyDeleteThe spouse is not so much on board but I read job ads periodically. And I speak fluent French!
DeleteBut your plants! Figs just don't grow well here.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I'd love for you to move to Cold City (preferably right next door). In fact, Cold City U Biochem Department is hiring 2 people right now... A friend from church is chairing the hiring committee.
It's like 99% escapism but I will definitely keep visiting you!
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