July 3rd, 2016, marks the sixth year I've spent living in Britain. Comparing things from 2010 to how they are now, I can tell this was a different country, even though only six years have passed
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Obviously as a native who's always lived here I'm seeing this from a different angle, but I think the nastiness has always been there. The level of racism in the 1970s was very high, for example. It's just that in the last few decades it's been suppressed. Since the vote, more people have felt emboldened to be open about their racism again.
I fear that we're entering one of those "not learning from history" periods, perhaps partly because there are fewer and fewer people alive who remember the 1930s. My grandmother, who is over 90 and does remember, is heartbroken at the Leave vote. She thinks it's the worst thing to happen to the UK in decades. One of the major reasons is that people like you are wondering whether they are even welcome any more.
Still, I don't think everything is dark. There's still a lot of kindness and decency, and some places (eg Liverpool!) stood out against the trend and voted Remain. I don't like what's happened to the country recently, but nothing is ever forever. I try to remind myself of that.
That's what I've been hearing a lot too, that the racism has always been there but suppressed. And now and slime started pouring out again, as if the referendum result somehow validated that.
I like to think eventually things can improve but then again nobody can tell when exactly and how much crap we'll be going through. I guess only time will tell. Certainly, I am blessed to live in a wonderful city which, similarly to my good old Leeds area, has given me some feeling of belonging and pride. Most of England, sadly, has not done that.
I don't suppose I need to express my profound regret at this current turn of events. I feel utterly ashamed of the UK, of Farage (and his utter asshattery post-"victory"), and indeed, of the press, who couldn't ever get enough of Farage, breathlessly echoing his every fart - with such a PR corps, who could fail?
I'll happily leave for Scotland, if they'll take me, or indeed, any EU member nation. My home has betrayed me, and I feel no obligation whatsoever toward it. Having spent a good part of my career as an immigrant, I'm not inclined to remain where the knuckle-draggers have seemigly prevailed.
Every person that I've spoken to has had some negative reflections on this result, and the ensuing hatred. It's completely not on, and I'm really ashamed it has come to this
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I fear that we're entering one of those "not learning from history" periods, perhaps partly because there are fewer and fewer people alive who remember the 1930s. My grandmother, who is over 90 and does remember, is heartbroken at the Leave vote. She thinks it's the worst thing to happen to the UK in decades. One of the major reasons is that people like you are wondering whether they are even welcome any more.
Still, I don't think everything is dark. There's still a lot of kindness and decency, and some places (eg Liverpool!) stood out against the trend and voted Remain. I don't like what's happened to the country recently, but nothing is ever forever. I try to remind myself of that.
Reply
I like to think eventually things can improve but then again nobody can tell when exactly and how much crap we'll be going through. I guess only time will tell. Certainly, I am blessed to live in a wonderful city which, similarly to my good old Leeds area, has given me some feeling of belonging and pride. Most of England, sadly, has not done that.
Reply
I'll happily leave for Scotland, if they'll take me, or indeed, any EU member nation. My home has betrayed me, and I feel no obligation whatsoever toward it. Having spent a good part of my career as an immigrant, I'm not inclined to remain where the knuckle-draggers have seemigly prevailed.
Reply
Reply
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