So, Brexit huh? We're in a post brexit era now peoples! Except we aren't, we're in a political quagmire of our own making, and that's what makes it worse. Call me melodramatic but this week has been one of sinking feelings and even sinkier hearts. Well for me anyways.
Ok, lemme backtrack a little. I know YOU know there was a referendum, and I hazard a guess you'll know the outcome of that afore mentioned balls up to the nth degree. A balls up not because of the result, which I totally disagree with BTW but democracy has spoken (or rather roared in the manner of an EDL member on a bad skinhead day) and it's the way of democracy to leave it to bone headed fools (public & politicians alike) to make important decisions. No, the balls up I refer to is the one we find ourselves in now, this post Brexit era that none of us can make head nor tails of (let alone the politicians that lead us into this hot mess) which seems getting all the more ballsed up by the hour... hence them sinking feelings.
Lets take a moment to reflect upon developments nearly one week on:
1. No one knows how, when or even indeed IF we will leave Europe now - though that said, we didn't know that before the referendum anyways but now we're committed to knowing squat all for at least the foreseeable future.
2. The Tories' plans for the future seem to be crashing through the political waves with all the grace and good fortune of the Titanic...
3. Labour Party see above. Then pass me a life jacket.
4. The Lib Dems... errr who? Oh yeah. Them (now) rare spotted beasties in the yellow. *sighs* Nuff said really.
5. The SNP? Well they're are bidding to become the official opposition in a parliament where they don't even stand for election in 3 out of the 4 countries represented therein. Which when you think about it, is a bit nuts.
6. The rest of the world is all 'Jeez, UK,WTF did you do that for?' (As they should be). Still, makes a change to the US being the usual recipient of the global DOH award for dumbass decision making.
7. Donald Trump is happy with the result. That in itself is reason enough to be scared. After all a man that positively embraces such a bad 'do with aplomb ought not be an authority on anything, follicle or political.
8. The England football team got beaten by a team whose GDP appears to be based mainly on herring and Peter Andre endorsements. Not strictly Brexit related but certainly following a theme.
9. Reported hate crimes are on the rise in the last week alone and people are scared.
10. Humanity is turning on itself.
Yeah, points 1-7 we can cope with. We're British after all (specifically English for point 8, and very much resigned to despair on such matters) and we have a national stereotype of stiff upper lips to fall back on. But points 8 & 9? Now that's what scares me. What REALLY scares me. Because you see, for all of it's supposed discussion about political sovereignty, the NHS, economy, jobs, the future of British industry in or out of the EU, this referendum was not about coming together to form a decision. Instead it was about DIFFERENCE....
The difference between Europe and the UK. The difference between the Brexiteers and Remainers, between fact and fiction. The difference between all 4 nations that make up this Isle (& a bit) of ours. The difference between the political elite and the disenfranchised, the haves and the have nots. The difference between religions, races, regions and nationalities. The difference between strivers, scroungers, and everyone in between. It's been a tug of war with the basic (one would hope) values of humanity and respect caught in the middle. This referendum has sought to divide without the ability to conquer. Shred hopes, dreams, ambitions, life plans, futures already in motion and those yet to be created. The country (well let's be honest, continent) has been ripped apart in more ways than one, and no one knows how to put it back together, certainly not me.
So what do we do? How do we solve this knotty problem? Minds far greater than mine (and indeed lesser *scans current raft of desperately flailing politicians*) don't seem to have the answer. And even if they did, apparently this country is 'fed up of experts' anyways, and look where that's got us. So all I can do is add my tuppence ha'penny to the debate and suggest we just be nice to each other. Or at least try. Try not to hurl abuse at someone that doesn't look like you, sound like you. Try to be a bit more understanding; not all Brexiteers are rabid racists, and not all Remainers are out of touch elitist wankers. We need to try to pull together, not be pulled apart. We need to channel a bit of what some think made us great once, namely good manners, a strong moral core (ok, that's debatable) and a calm, rational chat over a steaming cuppa hot tea. In short, let's just try not to be dicks. It's not good for us as individuals or as a country. The rest will figure itself out in time.... I hope.
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