SB 5 passed the Senate yesterday. As much as I want to, I won’t jump into a political rant about why that’s bad for our state and, ultimately, our country. Instead, I’ll address something I see floating around and being said to or suggested to people who are unhappy with the political things going on within their state.
We’re not going to leave Ohio.
It was suggested to me that, if we’re so unhappy, we could “just move.” Except that it isn’t an option for our family or other professional firefighters in Ohio. Why? Fire certification is state based. Some states will accept certification in another state, but not all. And it usually requires some additional schooling. Add in the fact that he’d have to compete (civil service test, physical test, followed by interviews) to get in with other firefighters, and it’s not just an easy pick-up-and-move type option. And then there’s the losing of seniority and pension for which he has already worked six years. When FireDad and I started dating, he had already finished his fire training in Ohio. As such, the decision on whether I would move to Ohio or he would move to Pennsylvania was already decided. Ohio it was.
I have learned to love the state of Ohio, though I will always be loyal to Pennsylvania and, more specifically, Pittsburgh. I will never cheer for the Bengals, the Browns, the Blue Jackets, the Reds or the Indians. But I will teach my children the history of Ohio. I will help them learn the geography of their home state. I will work hard to make my now hometown the best version that it can be. I will be active in state politics. I will encourage my children to pay attention to things that affect them when it comes to said politics, whether that’s locally, state wide or nationally. I may not agree with the majority of political viewpoints in my specific area, but I’m pretty sure that’s allowed by law.
But we won’t just up and leave. I know we would survive if it came down to a Worst Case Scenario, but it irks me that people think we can just up and move and make a new life for ourselves in the blink of an eye.
Ohio is home now. We can’t, rather, won’t just leave because some politicians got their way. We’re in it for the long haul. If you don’t like that, well, your decision is up to you. But I’m not simple-minded enough to suggest you leave just to make me happy.
I promise to keep readers, especially my Ohio friends, up-to-date on any political action to repeal if (er, when) it passes the house and is signed by our Governor. Until then, be kind to your neighbors. I always tell my boys that if someone is bullying them to just walk away. In this case, I still suggest walking away — but don’t walk too far. The fight is just beginning.