Another excellent post by Andy Dodwell
I’ve been lost for words at times since Friday morning, and those who know me well will know that is possibly the best thing that has come out of the referendum if you were a remain voter.
I am shocked by the result, deeply saddened that neither the remain or leave campaign seem to have had a plan for what they would do in the event of a narrow leave vote, upset by the finger pointing and accusations made towards individuals who voted as their heads and hearts led them, and utterly appalled by the racist attacks and abuse that have been reported.
I’m white, British, middle-class, middle-aged and I’m not a racist. Anyone who lives in this country is welcome to live near me, to work with me, to build community with me. I don’t care which football team, which religion or which political party you support. But discriminating…
View original post 763 more words
A Suffolk Lane 
Current politics on this side of the Atlantic are just as polarizing. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank-you Lavinia.
LikeLike
It’s so distressing, isn’t it! 😦
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is Ann!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Clare, for leading me to two most interesting and thoughtful posts. I wish that, one week on, I were less angry and distressed about what seems to be happening and about to happen in this country. The only comfort has been in discovering so many angry and articulate voices saying what I feel so much better than I can. And you have led me to two more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Margaret. I don’t feel any calmer either. I keep hoping that someone will come up with a plan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s not happening, is it 😦 ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No it isn’t. Confusion and chaos reign. 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for sharing, Clare.Praying for your country as well as ours. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you Jill. I pray your country avoids the situation we are in at the moment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve always wondered how “advanced” societies could fall so quickly, I’m afraid that we are watching it happen to the western society at the current time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m afraid we are Jerry.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks like fear is motivating far too many people all over the world and making decisions from a place of fear will never truly benefit any society.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are exactly right.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know what the answer is but I do know that bigotry and hatred aren’t it, and neither is ignorance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are quite right. I hope something is done very quickly to control the nasty and wicked behaviour that certain groups of people are now indulging in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Me too, on both sides of the Atlantic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the recent behaviour of certain people shows an underlying concern, had the remain vote won, this tension would be pushed under but now it is out in its ugly form it needs to be confronted and stamped out before we move on with anything. Maybe that way we will be able to establish ourselves, although looking at the news we may not be alone for very long on that front.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Ste – will be very interesting to see what happens next.
LikeLike
I enjoyed that thoughtful piece. Different perspectives – two people stand at the opposite end of a room; they see it differently, but are still in the same place. However, no decent person, and I believe that includes the vast majority of those who voted in the referendum, ‘in’, or ‘out’, could disagree with abhorrence of racism in all its forms. Where on earth have visitors or workers from overseas got the impression that they are somehow no longer welcome in Britain – or shortly won’t be? Britain has a proud track record of welcoming those from overseas – and, frankly, we all hybrids anyway. Is this fear being stoked by accusations that ‘Leavers’ are all xenophobic racists – and more besides? I’m sure there are some pretty unpleasant individuals on both sides of the debate. But Britain is still the same tolerant, liberal, democracy it was before 23rd June. And we have the laws to back it up. PS ‘A Bit About Britain’ doesn’t usually ‘do’ current affairs.. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t usually ‘do’ current affairs either but this referendum has appeared more ‘personal’ than other voting opportunities in the recent past. I believe that Britain has and probably will continue to welcome people from overseas and I agree with all you have said here. However, in recent months there have been an increasing number of incidents that involve racism. I hope this doesn’t continue and that those guilty of these acts can be made to see the error of their ways.
Thank-you very much for the follow. I have been enjoying your posts very much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We didn’t think the exit would happen. I personally always loved one Europe. It is easy to understand also the other side: people who love their country and its values want to preserve what’s still left. This is such a difficult issue and who knows what choice is better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wanted us to stay in the EU even though I had become unhappy with many of the EU’s rulings. I thought it was better to be in the EU than out of it and it would be easier to try to change things from within. It will take us some time to sort out the mess we have made.
Thank-you for your kind and thoughtful comment.
LikeLike
Oh Clare, we are unfortunately seeing a resurgence of racism in our country again. Our recent election results are proof of that with a woman called Pauline Hanson who has clearly racist policies being elected into the Senate. It feels like we are turning the clock back 50 years. Very sad indeed to see, isn’t it. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is very sad and it makes me frustratedly angry and unhappy. It’s all so shortsighted and unnecessary. xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
hmmm can i say this from this side of the pond ? Keep Calm, spread the message of brotherhood and love. Never give up. And yes we have similar predicaments here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you John. Wise words indeed. I wish you well in your coming Presidential elections.
LikeLike
A great article, dear Clare/Andy… we need more broad minded people… Not only in Europe but in the whole World…. Things are getting tougher as time goes by… in opposition to what we might have expected considering the advances when it comes to technology and communications… It could be seem paradoxical, but what brings us closer also tears us apart.
Thanks for sharing. Sending love and best wishes. Aquileana 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank-you very much for your thoughtful comment dear Aquileana.
Love and best wishes. Clare 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for this post, Clare.
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure, Cynthia.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very good post. I really am not sure what is happening in the world – My side of the pond and yours. It is certainly very disturbing. I am hoping that commonsense will prevail with our elections, but sometimes I begin to wonder if there is any left :-((
LikeLiked by 1 person
With our own referendum I truly think that everyone had thought carefully before they voted and had the country’s best interests at heart. The problem has been that no-one in the government had thought to make any plans for when/if the majority voted to leave the EU. There was so much bickering and back-biting before the vote that no-one had had the time to state what would really happen to the country if we did leave. For example, the money we pay to the EU for the privilege of belonging to it was not going to be spent instead on the NHS or schools as some people thought. The referendum has also given certain racist thugs the feeling that they can now be extremely nasty to anyone who looks and sounds different to them or even has a foreign name but has been living here for generations!. This despite the fact that without all our migrant workers this country would grind to a standstill! As you can see I am still feeling quite upset by the whole business and have grave doubts as to whether we will ever recover from this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I echo your sentiments Clare. I followed this development as closely as the American news would allow. I know that my family were completely dismayed. My poor mother who turns 90 this year was very sad as she voted to remain for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Certainly her English grandchildren feel British but they are European too so I feel very sad for them. The situation with that whole NHS money debacle too was awful. I can’t believe that people bought into all that. The problem is, as you point out, is that it gives voice to a very racist undercurrent that is raising its ugly head right now, in the USA too..I find it very disturbing. I really hope that the UK can remain united over all of this and pull through. I am almost dreading our elections in November and just hope that some common decency can prevail. Ugh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do sympathise! It would be nice to get it all over and done with quickly to end the uncertainty but then again a couple more months may make all the difference to the end result. My thoughts are with you.
LikeLike