Well here we are...just a few days to go before we lose all the amazing advantages of belonging to the European Union. It is breaking my heart to realise that the cooperation and peace we have gained over the last 40 years or so, is being eroded and broken by fools who are either ignorant, stupid, mendacious or all of these.
When the opportunity of joining with mainland Europe arose, I was young and ignorant of potential benefits. I voted to stay out. I was blinded by the propoganda served by politicians I admired, and I was put off by the fact that it was a Tory Prime Minister who eventually signed us up.
Ted Heath was no favourite of mine!
Citizens of the four nations of the UK never really had the advantages of the Union with Europe properly spelled out to us. The act of joining was a half-hearted affair. It was implicitly understood, by we proles, that we would retain our superior status and allow these other members certain limited access to our trade but we would retain the individual anomalies which keep us apart
from 'Johnny Foreigner'. There was no intention of joining the Euro nor was Schengen appropriate for us...somehow the UK was above the others, in our estimation. This attitude was accepted by the other members, reluctanctantly I'm sure, with a Gallic shrug of the shoulders and a frustrated sigh, because peace and trade between all the nation states was important and lucrative.
Over the years we have become reliant on interaction with, and mutual benefits of trade. Now, faced with tearing those links apart, we will be diminished and turned into a Third Country when the cruel, arrogant Tory politicians attempt to make trading agreements with member states.
The UK has already become insular and backward-looking.
Far worse, the UK has already become a racist, xenophobic enclave.
Angry citizens are feeling liberated enough to be openly cruel and vicious towards other citizens whom they consider to be not like them. The amazing mix of friendships and cultures built up over generations, is being eroded by fools encouraged by politicians and powerful media bosses. I am ashamed of what the UK has already become and I am fearful for the future. As citizens of an open multicultural society we have grown and benefitted hugely from interaction with our neighbours from outside the UK. This will be lost and it makes me sad.
My personal concerns include a fear for family members reliant on drugs and appliances made in mainland Europe. Supplies cannot be guaranteed and people will die without life-saving drugs like insulin or epipens used to counteract potentially fatal results of allergic reactions.
Of course we will have to get used to lack of fresh food which is now delivered daily via European ports because of trade deals with other European traders. The mess has now become clear....
the Brexit Búrach has shown itself in all its ugly manifestations ....and still we are heading towards chaos. The PM is holidaying in the sun with his latest 'squeeze' at the home of one of his many manipulators, whilst poorly paid UK workers and those unable to work are feeding their families from charitable donations to foodbanks.
I started with expressing my heartbreak and will end on the same note for the UK.
However Scotland has an escape route which must be grasped with both hands....and very soon before cruel, arrogant, greedy Tories snatch it and put it out of our reach.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to anyone who bothers to read my ramblings!
