EUref 2016: Great Britain. The beacon of
- Liem Doan
- Jun 24, 2016
- 5 min read
I set my alarm yesterday for 6am just after Sunderland had resulted in a Leave majority. With already media headlines notions of the sterling plummeting in value and fears of Northern Ireland and Scotland's independence looms as a posibility, a panic settled in before the long night. It had finally hit me the severity and reality of the situation, after months of farcical campaigning from both sides have led to me stood in the voting booth far longer than 5 seconds, contemplating which future I wanted.
In the morning as I rushed straight to Twitter to see who had triumphed in this pitiful display of politics. I was welcomed with the feeling of unsettled surprise to being slightly angry, emotionless, but as the sadistic weirdo I am, excitement. Whatever the ramifications of this vote, it has been a momentous occasion for British history for the present and the future. That instead of thinking it as a win for 'bigots, racists', it's a win for democracy.
Emphasising, that the Leave votes represent more than just fear but the embodiment of the attitudes of millions of ignored, disillusioned and disenchanted people all across the UK.
The IN vote supported the Bullingdon Club of the world that is the European Union where it was only exclusive to the wealthy and fortunate. That it corruption on the levels of mass tax avoidance and the brutality of forcing unfathomable austerity measures on Greece. The EU obviously isn't perfect but, it offered so much more in terms of the economic and social community that out scales any union of people on earth.
What is clear about this referendum that Britain only certifies that things will change. The whole radicalisation of the political paradigm is present across the world from the United States, Spain, Brazil whatever the country, a new politics born from the ashes of vicious 'pragmatism' and corruption.
What was even more of a displeasure to see today is the people of social media's amazing ability to surprise me with their pathetic belittling of individuals who actually are active in politics.
People who take it upon themselves to ultimately smear others because they're either not bothered to participate or overgrown with egoism to silence others opinions in efforts to appease their stature. However, even if you are as intelligent as you maybe, undermining people's effort to actually engage into politics is the exact problem with this generation. That any form of political activism whether it'd be Tweet, Facebook status or not, is slandered with negativity because it's somehow attention seeking to actually take part in politics. Yet, I understand there is a fine line between intentionally arrogant and debating the subject.
We already know that politics isn't perfect so it is our job as the youth of this generation to actually actively engage in it and change it, without people trying to barrier us with facetious labels to close any conversation to be talked about. Because this is fundamentally what had happened with this referendum.
The feeling we have right now of being ignored is something that we can't simply blame all the Leave voters for the uncertainty ahead because it was them themselves who were unheard of the political class, as time and time again their promises were not kept. They treated the public like children with their enticing propaganda and with unmeetable policies. This isn't only a protest vote but a eulogy to modern politics. That it shows through all the mainstream parties who supported remain, that they are completely disenchanted with the views of the public.
“A generation given everything: free education, golden pensions, social mobility, have voted to strip my generation’s future.”
I empathise greatly that you may be angry with the result. To feel that we've been cheated of the opportunity to reap the benefits of being in a union with so many cultures, people, diversity and an actual sense of unity amongst people. My message is that we have to be angry. Be upset, be emotional and use that emotion to sculpture the Britain that you deserve. Forget people who say we should 'get over it' because we will not let this down and we will not go quietly.
The reason why I couldn't follow my principles to endorse the Leave campaign because it was seemingly hijacked by right-wing elites who used the sense of xenophobia and fear to pursue their own agendas, even thought leaving has always been fundamentally an option of the revolutionary left.
Don’t let this feeling of anguish simply dissipate into just momentarily sentimentality that will last a day and gone the next. Because I hope that this has been a wake-up call for all young people that we have to act now for the future that we want. Organise, engage and muster all your efforts and take to heart that we're part of the bigger perspective demographic of an optimistic, open-minded euphoric youth that will achieve as a generation. Today has solely shown that we are capable of being active in politics. Show it in our actions that we deserve to have better. Feel resentful, upset, and worried about what is going to happen in the unknown future, because I'm not going to lie that this will be anyway easy.
The future is absolutely unpredictable but in saying that, it is therefore limitless in what we can achieve but also in turn being indisputably terrifying.
As all eyes are on Britain, and it looks as if we turned our backs on Europe. A statement that we fear immigration, refugees alike. Even if it wasn't the intent of Leave voters but it is those voices of bigotry that rises. For the people who voted leave, the fight is not over, the path in making 'Britain great again' is far from over. To all young voters who voted Leave or Remain. We may not be perfect and we will be criticised for being overly hopeful and euphoric. However, it's the fact that the future is in our hands and not theirs. So that it is obligatory that we must prepare for it as much as we can.
What are we going to be? What are we going to become? Are we going to let fear rule us and be sedated by the notion that we have blindly accepted day in day out that 'everything will be alright'? Are we going to have these radical parties fueled by hatred to determine our lives?
Or do we have the optimism and hope to shape our future. Take back what it means to be British. I'm excited for the challenge ahead which I know is a weird sense of optimism. But, I know that we can lead the future, our future to a model that serves the people with compassion and hope on its side.
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