The moment when I turned on the television early this morning and saw the way the referendum was going keeps coming back to shock me anew. I am absolutely devastated at the exit vote. Devastated.
I am angry that David Cameron saw fit to gamble everything on a referendum. I am angry at the lurid headlines in the tabloid papers about floods of migrants. And I am angriest of all that now the environment is left without the protection of the EU. The government have already made it clear that they think protecting wildlife is less important than economic growth. Money at all costs.
I look at Boris Johnson and I look at Donald Trump and I despair. How did we get here? What world will our children inherit? It's a dark day.
I'm with you here, as are about half of the country - probably more if we count those just too young for a vote. I've signed the 2nd referendum petition but doubt anything will come of it. I'm amazed this evening as I've seen so many clips of leave voters saying they didn't realise we'd actually leave and after seeing what happened this morning, they wish they could go back and change their vote. Some of their reasons for voting leave too - such a lack of intelligence and education it's quite shocking!
ReplyDeleteMuch more than half here :-(
DeleteI share your concern, CJ.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry, Claire. Thank you for saying that Trump scares you, as I am frightened to death of him getting into our White House. I've heard world leaders all over the globe state that they don't want him as the president but it blows me away how many US Citizens are voting for him! I am cringing. Wish us luck. I hope things settle down there for you. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteI felt like you would be upset with the outcome, what is our world coming to? I agree with you that Boris Johnson is very similar to Donald Trump, or the Orange Man as we call him. We live in fear that he will actually get in, mostly due to the complete ignorance of people here. I am so sorry my friend, your heart must be breaking.
ReplyDeleteSending you a hug,
Meredith
I feel the same, CJ. Everything feels so unstable right now around the world. Thinking of you and hoping for the best xo Jill
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately the media circus caused a lot of fear which influenced voting. Boris Johnson and Donald Trump, the perfect comedy duo.
ReplyDeleteNever have I been more ashamed to be British. I can't help but fear that we are a narrow minded little nation dominated by people convinced of our own superiority and self righteousness. My children (especially my youngest who is hoping to be studying French and Italian in the autumn...) are disgusted that their future has been determined by little Englanders. If I were Scottish I'd want out too. What a mess! And all of our own making.
ReplyDeleteThey asked a question that should never have been put to us. Unlike a General Election, the answer is permanent.
ReplyDeleteAgree :(
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. Disgruntled, frustrated, alienated people, who were not told the facts (or who didn't understand them), stuck two fingers up at the 'establishment', not realising what they have actually voted for. We should never have had a referendum. It was a terrible campaign full of lies and misinformation. If we end up with mad Boris as PM and Trumpaggedon happens, the world really will have gone mad. Aggghh! At least the sun is shining - I'm off outside to do some vigorous weeding. Have a good weekend Sam xx
ReplyDeleteMe too, CJ, me too.
ReplyDeleteI've signed the petition - about 840000 people have so far. Don't hold out any help. Has anyone else noticed that no-one admits to voting 'Leave'?
ReplyDeleteIt has been a referendum about immigration, not the EU. David Cameron failed us.
ReplyDeleteAnother signature here (921,337 now). Did not know about it, so thank you. Such a bad outcome
ReplyDeleteCJ I am as devastated as you are. I am so disappointed that the sister country to that which I have adopted as my home is so utterly shortsighted. I don't know anyone here in Scotland who is not shocked and angry. Looking at the map of the voting outcome, it is not surprising that cries for a new independence referendum are loud and strong, and many who have voted to remain in the UK because they didn't see isolation as a solution will no doubt change their minds. It is utterly scary. And the thought of a destabilised Europe makes me ill. Another bomb ticking. How to explain all this all to my dual nationality children (with their different dual nationality parents)?
ReplyDeleteDid you see how many people had to google what the EU actually is? That was after the referendum unfortunately.
Anyway, it is good to see my English friends being of the same conviction as myself. Thanks CJ, much appreciated. Have a lovely weekend all the same xxxx
I couldn't agree more. It's a bleak day for our country and, I am sad to say, I think things will get bleaker.
ReplyDeleteI haven't met anyone who has admitted to voting to leave the EU! Although there were many placards on farmland round here ordering 'Vote Leave'! Have you seen that Cornwall is demanding that the government maintain the level of support that they received from the EU? And they voted to leave!
ReplyDeleteEven from Australia this seems an incredible turn of events. I agree with you, what ever made David Cameron allow the referendum?
ReplyDeleteI'm not so pessimistic about leaving Europe although change is always a tad unnerving. I just hope that politicians now realise that they have to listen to the people who placed them in power instead of pursuing their own vested interests. As for policies regarding the environment we must make our voice heard and educate other folk of the pressing need to protect and nurture it, for without diverse flora & fauna and all its intricate web of inter connections I feel that we are, as a species, doomed. The more that understand this the greater chance of hearing our voice will be.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the importance of spreading the wildlife word as you know already, but the problem with coming out of Europe as far as the environment goes is that without a legal framework of enforceable protection, those who wish to build on habitats, or construct a new factory without due concern for climate regulations, or build houses where dormice, nightingales or great crested newts live will have a better chance of doing so in the future without facing criminal proceedings. The law acts as a deterrent as well as a form of protection. The brutal truth is that UK govts haven't passed any significant wildlife legislation since 1981. In the intervening 35 years populations have plummeted and habitats have been destroyed and some species are facing extinction. All new environmental legislation has come from the EU.
DeleteI sympathise, and agree with all you say. Lovely picture. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteAh CJ a lot of uncertainty ahead I'm worried and troubled which is not like me I don't like being in situations that I cannot control. I live in one of the poorest parts of Wales I'm led to believe. The surrounding areas have had huge sums of money from the EU for investing in jobs for the area and in the months and years to come I hope those that voted to leave regret not looking at the bigger picture. There was an overwhelming vote for leaving the EU in this area which is undoubtedly due to the huge level of immigration we have here. Communities have changed hugely because of the high level of migrants and I feared a leave vote would happen. I refuse to be beaten though surely there must be a way through this turmoil. x
ReplyDeleteDevastated is the word of the moment here, too (along with a few choice others which I won't repeat on your blog). Still hoping against hope someone is going to jump out from behind a chair shouting, 'Haha, only joking!'
ReplyDeleteI agree too. Sarahx
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteI am with you all the way my friend. Devastated that we are to leave. My eldest is genuinely worried about his future. And so am I. People were misguided, misled and their fears were pandered to in an unforgivable way.
Leanne xx
It's scary isn't it. We weren't well enough informed to make a considered decision and promises made by the leave campaigners have already been rescinded which must make many feel duped. I worry that there will be many unforeseen consequences to come. Let's hope Europe doesn't make us an example to deter others.
ReplyDeleteFunding for scientific research lost, university research grants lost, human rights lost, climate change agreements lost, farming support lost, wildlife protection lost, freedom of movement lost, trade agreements lost. It's utterly balmy and beggars belief. The choice should never have been put in front of people who didn't understand the EU and only listened to Boris spouting whatever he could to gain power, regardless of whether it was fact or fiction. Complete lunacy.
ReplyDeleteBarmy, not balmy. If only it were balmy! X
Deleteit's a terrifying thing to know that ignorance and misinformation could wield such long-reaching power. it's sickening...and horrifying and i'm devastated beyond words that such a thing has been allowed to happen. fearmongering, hatemongering, panicmongering....the media has as much to answer for as the lunatic politicians who led the charge.
ReplyDeletethe only way forward, though, i think is with faith, hope, love and an unwavering belief that it can be made right in the end. the British people are nothing if not a power to be reckoned with....perhaps this will galvanize them into positive action.
much love to you all....xoxo
Nightmare.
ReplyDeleteShock and disbelief here too. It is hard to have any hope for the future.
ReplyDeleteI love Great Britain. I am unhappy. Jarmila from Czech republic
ReplyDeleteUtterly devastated CJ. I voted remain because I thought that, although the EU has its problems (who doesn't), Britain is far better as part of it and in the middle of it all working to make it better for everyone. But alas, it seems that it's not to be. I feel truly sorry that Scotland and Northern Ireland are being dragged out of the EU against their will and that people who have come here to live and work are now feeling unwelcome. Jxx
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ReplyDeleteI do agree with you and the comments here. We weren't given sufficient real information to make a wise choice and had we all known what we know now I wonder how many Leave voters would have still voted the same way. I have one friend who voted Leave but we didn't really discuss her reasons - I was still in shock from the result when I saw her. Mr M and I as well as the Wanderer were all for Remain but our 3 votes were not enough to swing the result! Otherwise I know of no other Leave voters amongst my friends who mainly thought of what was best for future generations. Had we Remained in the EU maybe we might have had a chance of changing the things that are wrong with it but now ......!
ReplyDeleteI know some people who voted leave and when you ask them why they weren't even sure. It was a vote for some nostalgic view of a Britain that never was and never will be. The morning after on television there was a devastated leave voter who hadn't expected his vote to count and the leavers to win. Unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteI feel for young people whose future may have been put in complete jeopardy by Tory infighting and short sightedness.
I hear you, what an awful day it was, I never thought to see that result and was so shocked. A terrible campaign, and that so many people didnt't realise what they were actually voting for, It really should never have been a public ref. Now there is no real leadership in Westminster, what will happen here at home in Scotland remains to be seen, difficult, interesting and unprecedented times. Thinking of our wild life, our childrens' futures and where we go now x
ReplyDeleteWhat a mess :-( Still can't believe it :-(
ReplyDeleteI feel heartsick about it and it's the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning. The rise of far right nationalism in this country is alarming. I have friends and family who voted to leave and it's made it very tricky as, while I respect their right to vote whichever way they choose, I genuinely cannot comprehend why they voted to leave something so positive and inclusive.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you my friend. Xx
Thank-you for a splendidly articulate post. I will admit I have moved past shock and devastation and am sitting squarely in the middle of anger now. I guess I am classed as one of the "haves" that the so called "have nots" voted to - in the words of one man I saw interviewed - "give a right kicking to." Well I can assure him we feel kicked - so kicked in fact that in my company most of us will leave and head to the Hamburg office to continue our jobs which will mean that all our taxes and spending leave the UK economy too. It is strange that the nation we supposedly vanquished during the 2nd world war - the prevention of a repeat of which the EU was formed to attempt - was the place that immediately flung its doors open to us and said "come on in", "you're welcome here." I am not sure what any of this really says about the UK. I have lost some old friends over all of this, which makes me sad, but now I have to move on, literally.
ReplyDeleteThank-you for a splendidly articulate post. I will admit I have moved past shock and devastation and am sitting squarely in the middle of anger now. I guess I am classed as one of the "haves" that the so called "have nots" voted to - in the words of one man I saw interviewed - "give a right kicking to." Well I can assure him we feel kicked - so kicked in fact that in my company most of us will leave and head to the Hamburg office to continue our jobs which will mean that all our taxes and spending leave the UK economy too. It is strange that the nation we supposedly vanquished during the 2nd world war - the prevention of a repeat of which the EU was formed to attempt - was the place that immediately flung its doors open to us and said "come on in", "you're welcome here." I am not sure what any of this really says about the UK. I have lost some old friends over all of this, which makes me sad, but now I have to move on, literally.
ReplyDeletewe are watching it all from afar and hoping you get through what are sure to be difficult times ahead.
ReplyDeletea dark day indeed, and plenty more on the horizon I fear...........
ReplyDeleteI'm still reeling from it all, they are all a bunch of bar stewards :( xxx
ReplyDeleteI am still in shock.
ReplyDeleteI love GB but I feel so heartbroken.
Thank You for this post
Greetings from a French living in Chicago with a grown daughter teaching in England.
As an Irish girl living in Scotland who voted IN, the 23rd is a very SAD SAD day! But I suspect it will only be the first in a long line of sad days to follow over the next couple of years! I don't think history is going to be to kind in its judgment of those who voted out!
ReplyDeleteAnna
We found out about it at 9.30 in the morning at Manchester Airport as we prepared to fly out for a 2 week holiday in Crete. We sat there feeling as though we'd been punched in the stomach and the whole future suddenly looked very , very different. Two young women were watching the news in a similar state of shock - turns out they both work in areas either funded by the EU or that has large contracts within the EU; their futures looked very different now too. How dare our prime minister gamble our nations security and our young peoples futures just to get his party in power; how dare those that instigated the referendum and the leave campaign now just resign and leave the rest of us to clean up the shit pile they've created. I imagine Nigel Farage, David Cameron and Boris Johnson are all nicely cushioned by years of fattening up their private bank accounts. Many people will pay a terrible and completely unnecessary price for this stupid piece of hubris. I see a Britain torn to pieces with more austerity, more environmental degradation, unending 'economic growth' that benefits the already privileged and a gradual privatisation of our health service and other welfare services. Dark days indeed.
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