Try that in a Big City

People will be murdered by police because of the color of their skin
People will be murdered by police because they went to wrong house
People will be murdered by police because it’s Tuesday
But..
Try that in a big city
There will be consequences
Not enough
And certainly not justice
But there will be video
There will be outrage
There will be protests
There will be awareness that a crime has taken place

People will be pushed into despair, drug abuse, and homelessness
A system that can’t do the math of prevention vs. punishment
People will be forgotten because society does not seem to care
But try that in a big city
There will be services
There will be those who care
While options are rarely perfect
And there is a long way to go
Mental health problems are recognized as just that – mental health problems
The criminalization of existence edges back from the abyss

Trans kids die because of bullying, a lack of acceptance, and not being able to be the person they are
The denial of care in the name of protecting children by people who could not care less about children
Try that in a big city
Gender affirming care has a better long term success rate than knee surgery or hip replacement
Pronouns, rainbows, and understanding are the norm for the urban and suburban

A woman’s right to choose is under attack
A rolling back of civil rights unthinkable a few short years ago
Children forced to leave their state because religion is more important than their life
But try that in a big city
Abortion is matter between a woman and her doctor
Not her doctor, their lawyer, their congressman – it’s always a man – and their preacher

A country music singer runs from the stage during a mass shooting
Taking his microphone and platform without warnings or help for those left in the line of fire
Try that in a big city
And there will be understanding and a lack of judgement
Because they were the victim of a crime
An atrocity
And the macho bullshit spouted on courthouse steps and music videos is not the same as a response to fear

Fuck your small town.

_{Image by Vlad Min}