Solitude

Dear Toronto

Dear Toronto, 

Our pride and joy of our province. A place when, actors, singers, bands, come along and say 'We love Toronto!' or 'One of my favorite places.' 

If they only knew.

If they only knew how bad things actually are in their 'beloved Toronto.' If they only knew that there are people walking the streets that should be in jail for murder but instead walk free. 

If they only knew how many people are sitting in jail because they were accused of a crime they didn't commit. 

If they only knew how many police officers have arrested people because of the color of their skin.

If they only knew that three people, Sammy Yatmin, Sylvia Kibingaitis and Robert Dziekanski were murdered and could of been saved.

If they only knew that these three individuals all had a mental illness. To these people, a cop holding a gun to them for no apparent to them, might be a reason to act out. 

If they only knew that police have made or created a new gun called a 'Bean Bag gun' to stop people who are 'mentally ill.' Instead of talking to them or even trying other techniques like moving themselves out of harms way and continue talking to them instead of going to reach for a weapon. 

If they only knew how these three people felt and countless others. If they only knew that maybe they were going through a rough patch and forgot to take their meds. If they only knew that maybe they were trying to get back to their regular pattern before they stopped taking their meds.

Dear Toronto, you have changed so much and in my eyes you are no longer the 'pride and joy' of our province.