Countries such as Britain are already multi-cultural and this has to be the starting point; not trying to 'reclaim' the past, at the cost of a better and more inclusive future. Diversity amongst people, like with business, is strength.
On the back of the British electorate, by a relatively very small majority, having decided that they want the country to leave the European Union, the problem of racism has, again, become highlighted in Britain. People of Polish origins, for example, have began expressing their fears for their safety in Britain, and there have been reports of Polish premises being targeted. People from other countries and/or ethnic groups have also started to express their fears for their safety and their uncertainties about what is in store for them and their children in the 'new post-EU Britain.'
For example, people from the other EU member states are now wondering what will happen; how will their status in Britain be affected, after Britain finally jumps ship in the next 2-3 years? This situation, to some extent, is also likely to be being replicated amongst British ex-patriots working and living in European Union member states.
Racism in Britain in nothing new, and it has become more prominent following the on-going conflicts in the Middle East and the massive displacement, and the terrorist attacks in Europe and North America.
Fear and uncertainties have increased in probably all countries of the European Union. The politicians in Britain are telling people that all will be well, once the initial shock is abated. That the status of Europeans living in Britain is unlikely to be affected, and that the British economy will do well, once it has gotten through the 'storm of uncertainty' and then successfully navigates her way through the dangerous 'strait of Jeuepb' (Junker EU and European politicians and bureaucrats).
For those who are prepared to accept the reassurances of the British politicians, all will be well when Britain does depart from the European Union. For the restructured Britain which the Brexiters intend to deliver to the British people, it will seem that not much has changes negatively, while the British people will have more jobs. more prosperous, 'reclaim their sovereignty, and, once again, will become the lead nation in global trading.
Yes, if the politicians and the gullible 'little Englanders' are to be believed, Britain will become 'great again' - probably like Donald Trump dreams of making America Great again) by appealing to and returning to the past.
Of course, the dangers associated with placing your trust in the promises or reassurances of politicians are so great that, only a reckless person or a people who have no choice, would want to do so. You can probably hedge your speculative trading in business, to avoid or reduce any future losses, but, with politicians, you are more at sea with their promises and have no guarantees that your losses will be made good.
Similarly, there is a great danger associated with visionaries who become besotted with recreating the past, or with using past events as their templates for the future which they want to create. Take the example of Hitler's Third Reich, for example. It is probably not surprising that racism has become more of an issue following the British vote to leave the European Union.
Like Hitler and his co-conspirators, like Daesh/IS, like Al Qaeda, like the Balkan Wars in the 1990s, and fascism all over the world, it takes only a minority of people to begin something which can become massive, whether it be used for 'good' or 'bad', by getting their ideas to resonate or appear to resonate with commonly help beliefs or feelings amongst the masses. Racism, nationalism, religion and fear of or the desire to keep 'outsiders' out, sadly, are probably foremost among and the most potent of the drivers which separate people, and are exploited by scoundrels.
It would not be surprising, for example, if it were to transpire that the percentage of the British electorate who were motivated by racism, anti-immigrant and nationalistic sentiments, were greater than the 1..4 million majority which the Brexiters got. If that were to be the case, then it could be argued that racism in Britain has played the crucial role in the country leaving the European Union, and that they have done so 'democratically.'
Racism is an extremely pernicious disease which is probably ineradicable from the national body politic, and can only be controlled through great vigilance and careful and effective action to eradicate it when it pops its inhuman head up amongst otherwise decent humans. There is a need for humans to give more importance to their common humanity and the things which unite us, instead of those which are manipulated into dividing and exploiting us, such as 'ethnicity, 'race', 'religion', 'political ideology', and skin colour and language.'
People complain that 'they are taking our jobs', but they are not the people who created those jobs. A job, like the land, should belong to who is doing it?
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