It’s all gone

It’s all gone

The idea that we were a forward thinking, inclusive and friendly country.

The hope our children will live in a safe, prosperous and accepting part of a larger community.

The choice to live, work and travel without worry or restriction across Europe.

The help to assist those who need it, whether because of war, disability, health or poverty.

The belief that most others felt the same.

All gone.

0 Comments

  1. DeKay, I don’t want to fall out, so I’m not going to start an argument. But cheer up, man. It’s not the end of the world. Look up EFTA and the EEA. We’ve voted to leave the European Union, not the continent of Europe. Nobody’s talking about filling in the Channel tunnel. Co-operation and openness with other European countries, and the rest of the world, is still very much open to us. Norway and Switzerland, unquestionably enlightened and outward-looking countries, aren’t in the EU. Switzerland actually withdrew its long-moribund application to join just a day or two before our vote. Yet they’re both in the Schengen area, enjoying complete freedom of movement, while we, in the EU, aren’t.

    The point being that “Europe”, as opposed to the EU, isn’t a binary, in/out thing. The Council of Europe, for example, which operates the Court of Human Rights, has 47 member states, compared with the EU’s 28. I’ve been against the European Union for over twenty years, and I have to say I was extremely angry at the way the Leave campaign went for the cheap anti-immigration votes instead of explaining all this, and what, specifically, is wrong with the EU option. And I was far from alone among long-time Eurosceptics, believe me. I’d actually have been content to lose the vote if the campaign had resulted in a greater understanding of what the EU actually is and how it works. So don’t think I don’t understand your depression. It was a nasty, ugly, campaign. But trust me, the result isn’t nearly as bad as you think.

    Now, games…

    Duncan Snowden
    1. My main concern is the scum that this whole affair has seemingly legitimised. Regardless of the actual outcome (whether we stay or not, and if we don’t, what deal we broker, and how the economy recovers), some very not nice people have come out of the woodwork. Even though they’re a minority, they’re a force.

      Obviously I’m not suggesting you’re one of them, and in your case I’m sure you thought carefully about your reasons for wanting to leave and possible outcomes if we did. It’s just very apparent a lot of people didn’t.

      Anyway. Yes. Other things.

      deKay

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