What will the 24th June 2016 mean for the future of the UK?
Will we look back on this day and wonder what all the fuss was about, or will we remember the results of the EU Referendum as the day everything changed?
A nation divided
It seems we are a nation divided, but how come the majority of people I’ve spoken to or communicated with on social media were shocked and saddened by the result of the EU referendum? Some scared and others very concerned about our future, it seems no one wanted to leave, yet here we are, on the brink of changing the history of our country forever.
People voted to leave the EU and their votes won through. Were these people voting on the basis of wanting to take control of our country and its economy? I’m not so sure. As the campaigns on both sides gathered momentum, it seemed increasingly that the ‘vote leave’ focus became more about immigration. I did’t like the tone the campaign took. Nigel Farage and his ridiculous poster said it all.
After the brutal murder of MP Jo Cox last week, we were a nation united in grief with each other and the rest of the world. With #moreincommon trending on social media, I’d hoped people were beginning to see sense, united against hate and heeding Jo’s words. It felt like her death, if nothing else, would highlight why we should stop making this EU referendum about a desire take Great Britain back for ourselves, to make it as it once was, whatever that means.
The Brexit voters are not united in what they want for this country
Some see it as a way to strengthen our economy and put more money back in to our services; to take back control of our spending. Others saw the vote as an opportunity to control who we allow to live here. What worries me is that amongst those voters, are extremists who think they’ve been given a voice, think they have support for their cause. It’s fuelling their hate campaign. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s what it feels like anyway.
I don’t know what it means to be British anymore and I’m not proud of the decision we’ve made. I hope to look back on this day and feel relief that it wasn’t as bad as it first seemed, that we survived the transition without falling apart both economically and as a nation, that 52% of the country knew what they were doing when they cast their vote. Let’s hope so because the alternative does not bear thinking about.
Reblogged this on ladyleemanila and commented:
Nicola Young said what I was thinking. Thanks x
Thanks for re blogging
These are my sentiments too and though I am not British, I feel totally saddened by this decision.
I keep hearing comments that imply those that made this decision and voted leave are uneducated and I hear comments like I hope they know what they’ve done. Whilst each and everyone of us is entitled to their view, I can’t help but be outraged at such comments. An education does not make your view right and someone else’s wrong. We all have the freedom and the right to a belief. Quite frankly nobody made an educated vote as we are all spoon fed information that the media want us to see. Nobody has the full facts, regardless of how passionately you feel you understand the referendum and how much research you may or may not have done. This wasn’t about people voting for Nigel it was about people wanting change. Whether or not this is the answer time will tell. There will be a lot of scaremongering for a while and of course anything that happens that is negative will be blamed on this. There will always be extremists that would have used the result ( either way) to manipulate their own ideals. In terms of people’s reactions you’ve heard I think it depends on who you are listening to. Many people who I’ve heard voted to leave don’t feel like it is a victory. They had the same agenda as those who voted to remain to try make the future brighter for the next generation. I think a little perspective is needed. There was life before , there are successful economies outside of the EU.
I agree with you. The decision on which way to vote has nothing to do with education and I didn’t make any reference to it. I too had difficulty coming to my choice and could understand both sides. One thing was for certain: no outcome was certain and that is that. I object most to the association with Farage and his extremist followers and I’m only sorry that the Brexit vote was tarnished and somewhat over shadowed by that.