When it comes to politics, I am a little wary of blog posts that focus only on one side of any debate, or that could potentially offend or alienate readers. It's not something that is really of interest to me, to use my blog as a political platform which would then dictate who my audience is, or to put people off reading other posts that I have written. However, I am sitting here, on Friday morning, the 24th June, in a state of real heartbreak, and I simply couldn't just say NOTHING.
I have just stayed awake for the whole night (Thursday night), slowly sinking lower and lower into a state of depression and anxiety as the results of the EU referendum have been released. Britain has voted, by a majority of just 4%, to leave the EU. How could this have happened? In the whole build-up to this referendum, throughout all the campaigning from both sides, I don't think I really ever believed that my nation would choose this. Even in these last few days before the voting began, I never saw a 'pro-leave' tweet or status update, it seemed to me like everybody was for remaining part of the EU.
This is such a huge disaster. Economically, the pound is at its lowest value since 1985?! And it is still sinking. The UK is now completely fractured, with Scotland and Northern Ireland both saying they will now have referendums of their own, as they wish to remain part of the EU, and may then leave the UK. Even London itself has started a campaign to remain part of the EU for itself. The peace process between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is destroyed. It hasn't taken long either for other countries in Europe to call referendums - the Netherlands has already called one and they are saying France is soon to follow. In short Europe is completely unravelling.
And what of all the expats living abroad, as well all the Europeans who currently live in the UK? When I think of the UK, I think of diversity, a multi-culture, multi-national, dynamic society... but this is now broken. As a Brit myself living abroad in Germany, I am wondering what will happen to me? I have a settled life here with my partner and friends and contacts. Will I have to leave all of that behind to return to a country where I do not feel I belong, with political values and beliefs that are not mine. David Cameron has resigned this morning, meaning that our next Prime Minister will likely be Boris Johnson - who ever voted for him? Certainly not me, and I do NOT want to be part of a society that is controlled by him or any of his cronies.
I am deeply, deeply worried, and I am ashamed. The 'leave' campaign was all about Britain taking back control of itself, about being proud to be British, but this is opposite to how I feel, and opposite to how so many of the country now feels. Should it even be possible that with a majority of just 4% any of this is allowed to happen??
I feel like I have lost a part of my identity this morning; I cannot call myself British anymore, but when I walk around here in Germany, I feel like I somehow shouldn't be here either. I am lost, and I know this is how a lot of people are feeling today. With all of this, plus the Trump danger in the US and Putin hovering close by, where can we go? Where can we go to feel safe and to belong?
Some helpful links:
Petition for a 2nd referendum - please sign!
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/131215
A great article:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jun/24/eu-vote-uk-diminished-politics-poisoned-racism?CMP=share_btn_fb
Labels: Thoughts
