So, its done. The long awaited, painfully drawn out referendum is done and if I am honest I'm still a little in shock at the outcome. I wasn't expecting it. I was quietly confident that we would stay in, but we haven't. And now we have to live with that decision.
And live with it. We have to. And here's my point.
The aftermath of this referendum has had me raging at my laptop screen. Throwing my phone across the table in despair. Because, well, everything has gone a little bit batshit crazy, hasn't it?
The panic, the public meltdowns, the abuse, vitriol and general twattery I have seen and read has me lost for words. And that doesn't happen often. And it was only for a millisecond that I was actually lost for words because when I have something to say, I blog. And I sooooo have something to say now.
Everyone knows we live in a democracy. I think we are particurly privileged to do so. We took a vote. You could opt in, opt out. Chose to vote, chose not to vote. Chose to vote and then not bother. Chose to vote in and then change your mind at the last minute and vote out. Because that's what living in a democracy is all about. The right to choose. The right to vote. The right to be heard.
And that's what we have done.
But instead of being united in the choice of the majority, the "Remains" are all sorts of pissed off. All sorts of affronted. And all of a sudden they haven't got their own way and are looking for legal loopholes to have another go. Because that's the way forward, isn't it? If you don't get your own way the first time, stamp your feet, shout a bit and battle on to get your own way. Its the most absurd thing I have ever heard. How many times can that go on? 17 referendums later and we finally vote remain because everyone has moved to the outer Hebrides to get away from it all and there are only 7 people left voting. And finally those 7 all agree to remain and all is right with the world. Really? Is this the sort of democracy that we want? You just keep going until the most affronted and the loudest get their own way?
And those who are now "ashamed" to live here, ashamed of their fellow voters. Now that really really pisses me off. Because that's like suggesting your opinion is the only one. And its right. That you are more right than everyone else and that's simply not true. This referendum was ground breaking for our country. There has never been anything like it in my lifetime and because of that. Because there is no precedent - there can't be no right of wrong answer. Its the majority rule. Its the opinion of the majority that matters. And in this case the majority wanted out. And as much as that might make your blood boil, You have to respect that don't you? Being "ashamed" it just wrong. The worst thing that you can tell a person is that your ashamed of them. Its like the biggest put down in the world. Its belittling. And you are saying this about peple who just don't have the same opinion as you. Its disappointing, of course. But to be ashamed to be British is just not, well.. British.
And now London want to be seen as an independent state. I mean, don't even get me started on that. It petulant behaviour. It throwing your toys out of the pram behaviour and the fact that you are old enough to vote should be enough to make you behave like an adult. Because that's what you are. An adult. You should be grown up enough to realise that you don't always get what you want in life. Its that simple. And if they get their own way I think it will open up the floodgates for a lot more independent states. And then what, civil war??
And we HAVE legitimised racism. Its true. And its very very wrong and equally makes my blood boil. But there have always been racists from every background in this country. They just think they have a voice now. And not everyone who chose to leave did it for racists reasons. Its the minority of people who have. So now we have to stand by the country's decision but confront these racists and shut them up. It wont be easy but its like every single problem in society - you won't eradicate it you have to do your very best to try and stem it. And that's up to all of us.
The Facebook posts and Tweets about how everyone who had voted out were "fucking idiots" "fucking retards" (I kid you not.) just brought out the very worst in social media. It wasn't a nice place to be. And actually it still isn't. Because we still haven't reverted back to lovely holiday photo's, pictures of food and cats. And that's why I think I need to take a break from it all. Not for long, but just long enough for the ridiculous nonsense to calm down. Now I am not saying this so everyone shouts "stay" "don't go" believe it or not I am not that attention seeking but just because I don't want to feel like punching the whole world in the face every day. And that's what Facebook is doing to me. Making me want to punch the whole world in the face. Every day.
I am no longer sure what social media is all about. I get that its moved on a lot and it means all sorts of different things for different people, and you can hide people, block people and all that shit. I know that. But everytime you wanna have a quick whizz around whats going on with your mates you have to do a social cleansing exercise? No thanks. I don't want it to be that difficult.
So I'm taking a social media break from Facebook. My palms are sweating already and I am hyperventilating at the thought. Its become a huge part of my everyday. But I don't want to carry the world on FB anger around with me all the time.
I except the vote. I am very anxious and little bit scared as to what the future holds, but I've always loved a challenge and I have to accept that our country voted out. So we need to do this. And face whatever that may bring.
And I leave this with you, because we have become lost in the world of the referendum.
Isn't the weather shit for June......?
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