There'll Always Be an England — No Matter What the Brexit Vote

Photo: Tony Ray-Jones © Royal Photographic Society/ National Media Museum

If my native Britain votes to leave the European Union on Thursday, June 23rd, 2016, I doubt that the present, pressing, humanitarian demands on this lovely little island will cease any time soon. Mass human migration is a global issue and (just my opinion, but) no one country gets to opt out of a solution right now. 

I boarded a Virgin Atlantic flight aged 23 from the UK to the US with oodles of youthful zeal and luggage that never arrived and have made quite a life for myself stateside since the early 90s. I've done my best to contribute to my adoptive country. Whenever possible, I  love spending time with family back in the UK and, in fact, am heading back over the pond for a visit next week. 

While it is not my place to pontificate on Brexit one way or another, I will say that I have raised three American born sons as dual national European passport holders and that's quite an amazing thing for them to consider themselves global citizens. All in all, the open dialog taking place in politics here in the U.S and in the UK today is remarkable in itself. 

Whatever the outcome of the vote, may there always be an England. Pots of tea, scones, real ale, fish and chips, Yorkshire pudding, great literature, theatre and tv, irony,  culture, fashion, music, common sense . . . the list goes on and on and on. Ireland, Wales and Scotland, I dig you, too! 

I LOVE you Britain, whichever boat you choose to float. 

Want to know more about the EU and this important upcoming referendum? Click here for a simple outline by the ever-stalwart BBC.

 

Comments

[Murray Rockowitz]

Frances, thank you for this. Well said. We are watching, I have enjoyed more than one conversation with more than one Ex-Pat, interesting times, indeed. Did you get to vote? Are there absentee ballots? Have a great visit.

[frances rivetti]

I gave up my right to vote in the UK after permanently settling in the States, Murray. I do vote here in the US, though, for sure. I've been fascinated by reporting throughout Europe on learning the broader implications of this week's referendum.