What a week of whinging and whining it has been and not just from my teething 1 year old! I spent the last 2 weekends working in the UK and the madness that has grown from one week to the next in regard of the referendum (taking place as we speak!) has been horrendous.
For me, having already cast my overseas vote by post 2 weeks ago, I could breathe a sigh of relief (sort of) and step back to watch the battle from the sidelines but for those that had not yet decided I can only imagine the confusion being dredged up.
The absolute bitterness that has been evoked in some people is shocking and regardless of the outcome tomorrow morning I think Britain has a lot of rethinking to do – whether independently or as part of the EU.
The lies that have been broadcast in relation to “Brexit” are actually ridiculous and the worst part is that people believe them. It worries me that some people are so uninformed and take certain statements as gospel, without further investigation. Not only that but these same people are making noise about something they do not even have the facts over. Trusting tweets and Facebook statements or a single headline in The Express without reading the full story or looking into other accounts to me is unfathomable and yet these people are going to vote today (well, if they actually had the sense to register and put actions to their words) and help change our country forever.
I think most shocking of all has been the way the sickening death of MP Jo Cox has been used, ironically by both sides of the fence, to gain support or knock down others. Whilst she was an avid fighter for the Remain group she was much more than that and though she would perhaps be happy if her death led to others researching her work and voting the same, or opposite, because they have been rightly convinced either way, I don’t believe someone that felt as strongly about politics as she did would want people to vote her way ‘just for the sake of it’.
More importantly though she was a Mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter, a granddaughter and in her final moments I imagine she saw only the faces of her beautiful children and her husband with whom she shared them. When this madman chose to take away this beautiful person (inside and out from all accounts) I very much doubt her mind was on the upcoming referendum and I think it is an additional tragedy that her final memory was used in such a way.
Yes, it is a scary time. One of unease and uncertainty. Even if we get the result we want no-one really knows for sure what the future holds and we will never know which was the better option because, for right or wrong, the result tomorrow is definitive and can only go one way. There is no going back. We have to move forward. I just hope however we do it we can do it together. I hope this obvious split between us does not fester and cause more hate and fear because we all know who’s hands we are feeding into then and that is a slippery slope. We already live in a world where terrorists are a reality and not just the thrilling storyline on ’24’. We can not give them any ammunition. Whatever the outcome we have to stand together for a Better Britain, a more peaceful world and be strong.
I am by no means a political expert. I read arguments from both sides, researched statistics, considered the opinions of those I know who are more worldly and intelligent than myself and eventually voted based on my own personal experiences and gut instinct.
It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to hear I voted to REMAIN. I enjoy the simplicity the EU allows when it comes to living and working between my home country and that of my husband. My children are half English, half Austrian and I am happy they can enjoy growing up in a world where their 2 homes are all part of a greater union. I am still proud to be British and I don’t believe this needs to change because we are not ‘completely independent’. In this world of uncertainty I think it is important to have friends. I am not going to go into more details. I certainly don’t want to bias anyone or inflict my opinion on you. This referendum is about everyone in the UK speaking up for themselves and what they believe in. I only hope, whatever you vote, you back your belief up with information from a variety of sources and not just what you have had thrown in your face on social media.
For me it is important to remember migration works both ways so I have voted, not so much for me, but for my children. I want them to grow up in a world where they are free to make their own choices, where travelling around Europe and learning about other cultures is easily accessible. I want my children to be able to fall in love with whoever they choose and to do so without prejudice. I want my children to embrace their neighbours and to be the kind of people that, wherever they go, they will work hard and contribute to the society that has homed them.
I actually have yet to meet a single person who wants to leave, including strangers I have talked to on the plane or in a cafe, but remain or leave I believe there are many people who still share the hardworking values that actually made Britain great in the first place.
A lot of those people are from the EU. Hardworking, lovely people who have done more to contribute to our society than many who were lucky enough to be born in the UK.
I believe in educating my children to be proud of where they come from without taking anything for granted and being accepting and tolerant of others – wherever they come from. I believe in fighting for my country and not blaming others for our supposed downfall.
In less than 24 hours time we will have an answer but IN or OUT my values will not change. I hope for others they do.
Sweet Dreams
Mama Atzi x
