Public Liability (oops sorry) Public Library Michael
We encountered Michael outside the Chattanooga Public Library. He was talking to himself at quite a pace, listening to an answer and chatting some more. He did not have a mobile phone and although I am no Doctor, I sort of assumed he had a few mental health issues. My unclinical diagnosis, after a 2 minute, at a distance, 'consultation', is that Michael has schizophrenia; that he was listening and responding to a host of internal insistent voices.
It was raining and we were sheltering from the rain. We decided to sit on the small wall, outside but under the Library canopy. This was interpreted by Michael to mean we wanted to hear Michael's story and donate to his personal economy. He seemed to be having some hassles with a wheelchair bound, disabled older lady who at one time had lived 4 floors below him in his apartment block in Chattanooga. She was, Michael assured us, a racist, a card holding member of the KKK, who was accusing him of a multitude of misdeeds; such as theft, assault and rape. He had been arrested on a few occasions on the 'say so' of this vindictive women and she was always believed, over him; because the Chattanooga Police Department were racists too! Whether all this was real or imagined Michael firmly believed it. Whether Michael had a genetic/inherited disorder or whether his psychosis had been brought on by marijuana or other mind altering substances was also not evident (he was not actually using at the time). Nevertheless less this poor black man had some serious issues that were not being satisfactorily addressed and so did the disabled white lady. They were, if she was real, making each other's lives miserable. If they could see things from each other's perspective they may be able to help each other rather than do more damage. By all accounts, well actually just the one account, Michael's, the police were not helping either of them. The U.K. have similar people with these issues and we don't really deal with them any better. The police often get involved and the rule of law plays out to its conclusion. The system throws desperately ill people to the ravages of society.
We gave Michael a few dollars and we felt slightly fore lore when we left him. We were powerless to do more and sadly Michael's life would play out and conclude on his own sad path.
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