I have only lived in England for less than
a year, but I have become to know this country as my second home. Family ties
going back generations and relatives who defended this nation during World War
II give me a sense of pride to be ‘part-British’. Having now lived and studied
in the North also gives me an appreciation for this country as a whole, not
just the bit of London I liked to play tourist in. I have made true friends
here and strengthened my relationships with my cousins. With all this in mind,
I have come to embrace the British way: complaining about weather, the ability
to laugh at life’s hardships, having a stiff upper lip but still genuinely
caring about other people and their background, and of course enjoying a proper
pint in the community living room.
Perhaps this is due to the comparative state
of American politics in 2016, but I have also come to appreciate Britain’s
political values. Sure there are important cross party disagreements over the
economy, NHS funding, defence, etc, but core social values such universal healthcare,
equal rights regardless of gender or orientation, and the no nonsense approach
to guns and violence seem to resonate across the board. Even multi-culturalism
and religious acceptance seemed be
woven into the British fabric; the word ‘progressive’ was not an evil one. A
small island nation with an outsized economic, military, and cultural
influence, Britain could be seen as a country with a relatively heavy hand on
the world stage, while still focused on key domestic concerns.
However, the EU Referendum, and the vote to
leave have started to tarnish this image. A campaign by both sides run on fear
and even flat out lies, now lands the UK in a position of ‘what’s next?’
Politically, the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron means the
inevitable reshuffling of government, and uncertainty within
parliament. Economically, the pound has crashed, the economy will likely be in
turmoil for awhile, and future growth (especially for places like the North of
England) is in serious jeopardy. Another serious concern is the disintegration
of the UK. Even if Scotland does not secede from the Union, further divisions
will continue to grow. London will become even more disenfranchised from the
rest of England and cracks are likely to show in other parts of the nation as
well. Bigoted anti-immigrant fear, isolationist attitudes and a certain level
of ignorance have allowed this to happen. I by no means think that there were
not plenty of people who voted to leave based on rational opinion and
judgement. I don’t think anyone can argue that the EU is perfectly
representative and efficient. However, it seems that it was not this argument,
but rather the former that carried Vote Leave to the majority. I will always
think of England, and Britain as a whole, as a beautiful and remarkable place,
but I do fear that my earlier sentiment towards its progressive yet
economically sound positioning could be cast aside. Let’s hope sensible voices
from both sides can come together to actually figure out a solution and a way
forward for a new Britain.
Comments
Post a Comment