And in typical RAWK fashion, I'd like to ask what's YOUR opinion on this?
Because as a RAWKite, your personal view is valued far more than a media opinion, its what sets us apart from other forums. (Be prepared to be shouted down if its outrageous!).
Okay, so how do I put this? I am not British, but since approx. age 16 have been in love with all things (well, most, lol) British. I am an anglophile, I love your language, your history (good and bad), your culture - you guys. I lived and worked in London for a while back in the late 90s. I always figured in my retirement years I would spend a lot of time on the English and Scottish coasts and with exploring all the parts of the country I haven't seen yet (and that's a lot although I have been around a bit).
So apart from Remain being the logical thing (looking at economy, rights etc.) I am deeply invested in this from a personal point of view (I wrote some longer rants on here shortly after the referendum). My heart is bleeding when I see the state Britain and its people are in. At the same time I feel a bit like a lover spurned... wherever I went in the UK I was always welcomed with open arms and so much friendliness and warmth. Even with Britain always having been more Euro sceptic than other countries, I thought that the positives of what the EU represents had gotten a certain hold in British society. But then Brexit happened and it's like... the British saying, hey you Europeans, we don't want to be aligned with you anymore. We don't value what you try to do and so we don't want to be with you fullstop. I try to rationalise and of course it is not "the British". Many hold a different view, but it still hurts (may sound strange, I know).
For the past three years I have been torn between varying degrees of depression, anger and hope. Being depressed at the utter stupidity of it all, trying to accept that there will be a Brexit at one point. Mad at the way this is being handled and the Leave camp still chasing unicorns and selling it to those gullible enough. A few weeks ago I had reached a point of 'oh you lot, just leave with a no deal then, it might be the only way some learn of the effects'. But that option will hurt so so many people, especially those who already struggle, that I cannot really stick with it. So then hope kicked in (again), that by some miracle enough decision makers would see sense and stop the whole thing. Mainly by now I am hoping for a longer extension and that at the end Brexit will simply be cancelled (or it will be very very soft).
All this time I am thinking, while I may sometimes be conflicted about my feelings regarding the best way forward, I am on the outside - at the end of the day my view is rather insignificant. How must all of you feel, who have to directly deal with this every day, in your lives, with friends, family, mates, and in regards to your future.
Some of the EU people I know who have lived in the UK for many years have packed their bags: One couple, both German, with a pre-school kid, he used to work for London Transport, she worked at a bank. They are now back in Frankfurt, she already has a new job, he is a stay at home dad for now, but as an engineer will surely find work. Another couple, she is German and a professor at Oxford, he is English and in the last few years worked for a brewery (he said that there are a lot of non-British working there and he can see that industry is doomed in parts). They have two kids, dogs, a farm with horses. A few weeks ago she got a job offer in the South of Germany and she took it and they have now moved there. Both of these families would have loved to stay in the UK and surely would have done so without Brexit, but there is so much uncertainty that they grabbed these opportunities and left. Of course this is a privilege only EU citizens have and maybe those with Irish family background or similar. Most of you will have to live through it all, come what may.
So this whole thing makes me feel ragey and sad and helpless and I am Remain Remain Remain. I don't want you to leave and I never thought that this mess is where Britain and the EU would end up in the year 2016 and after...
Sorry for this rant, you can shout me down now if you like.
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