Getting closer to the EU Referendum where British people vote to remain or leave the EU you can see how nervous everyone gets: You see people of one or the other party handing out flyer, the newspapers are full of EU Referendum headlines (even in Germany) and social media get´s flooded with video clips, newspaper article, poll statistics etc. I wished the EU would be more appealing to the British than it currently is so that we wouldn´t be in this position of not knowing how the vote will go here. I am at a loss of words that a politician, a wife, a mum lost her life over this vote! This is unbelievably upsetting!
I want you to know how much I love and enjoy living in the UK. We chose London over any city in Germany, where we originally come from. The life here is so much more exciting than back home: I meet people from all over the world in my company, at my children´s school and everywhere we go in London. It is kind of travelling around the world without actually doing so. I am always impressed how welcoming and open British people are and how easy it is to get to know them even though we are not British.
We initially came to London when my husband got offered a job. We couldn’t think of any better city to live in Europe. It’s the best city for my husband’s job and we also have everything we wished for for our children: Great schools and Universities, plenty of activities for kids throughout the day, a good health- and an outstanding safety system. And it is lovely to see my kids growing up with children from various cultural backgrounds.
Last weekend we spend a day at the beach. It was a lovely day but there was something catching my attention on the way back: The huge „Brexit – Vote Leave“-advertising along the roads. On top of that I read a conversation in a local Facebook Mum’s group the same night. Let me repeat the conversation in my own words:
Lady 1: „Does anyone exactly know what will happen with EU citizens when Britain leaves the EU?“
Lady 2: „They will all have to go home!“
Lady 3: „If you were here for over 5 years you can apply for permanent residency.“
Lady 2: „That’s a bad mistake“
Lady 3: „That’s not a mistake, it’s law“
I didn’t follow this conversation any further but I was really surprised by the fact that someone makes these statements in a group of local mums of which probably 50% are non-British immigrants or Expats – however you may call us. I am sure Lady 2 does not represent many views and felt emboldened sitting behind her keyboard. Anyhow it made me feel offended.
I am really not into politics and I do only have a vague idea what might happen if Britain leaves the EU. My husband and I are both working so I guess we would be allowed to stay. However my husband’s company might move to a city within the EU… But we don´t want to move anywhere right now!
Britain leaving the EU just doesn´t feel right for me. The increasing number of conflicts and terrorism around the world may make people think, they are better off if their country is independent and can decide what is best for their own people. But aren´t we stronger living and working together as a union?
Many well-known people, politicians, scientists and institutions believe that it is best for the UK, for the EU and for the whole world if Britain remains in the EU. I do trust these experts and want my children to grow up in a strong and safe Europe. I´d rather call them being European than German, which they hardly are as one has spent half and the other nearly all her life in London.
I cannot change anyone’s mind of what to vote on June 23rd. But I can reassure that there are thousands of EU citizens (and probably also thousands of British people living in Europe) nervously waiting for the result of the Referendum.
Fingers crossed more British people vote for Europe than against it!
x Uta
Mir ist es völlig egal was Leute wie Uta darüber denken bzw. empfinden. Von mir aus ist selbstverständlich, daß auch solche deren persönlichen Meinungen kundtun dürfen. Doch, scharf in meiner Erinnerung bleiben die anti-demokratischen Ereignisse, die abfälligen Haltungen und zerstörerischen Taktiken, die in den gar DREI/VIER JAHREN nach der demokratischen Abstimmung im parlamentarischen Unterhaus meiner geliebten Heimatinseln von Großbritannien und Nordirland ab- und ausspielten. Wir BREXIT befürwortende britische Wähler würden – wie jene die für den noch juristisch amtierenden US Präsidenten Trump stimmten – quasi für ‘klägliche Idioten’ gehalten und sonstigen Unflätigkeiten ausgesetzt. Massive Versuche wurden im Unterhaus unternommen, um das Ergebnis der Volksbefragung zunichte zu machen, statistisch aufzurollen. Eine unverfrorene Haltung einer bestimmten geringfügigen parlamentarischen oppositionellen Politgruppierung wollte gar das ganze Ergebnis der Volksbefragungen – und somit der souveränen Volksentscheidung – völlig annullieren! Diese nämliche Gruppierung – einschließlich antidemokratischer Chefin/Rädelsführerin – flog aber nachträglich hochkant raus aus dem Parlament! Peinlich, sowas. Denn eine verärgerte Bevölkerung zeigte dem Abtrünnigen Unterhaus, in der folgenden Nationalwahl, die tiefrote Karte! Auch hier in der “Bundesrepublik” (Deutschland) – diese “BR” hat übrigens mitnichten irgendwas mit der echten demokratischen deutschen Kultur und der ebenso intelligenten wie empfindsamen freundlichen deutschen Bevölkerung gemein – möchten sich viele von “Brüssel” und dessen künstlichen Währung befreien. Doch, ein derartiges Ansinnen hat keine Chance auf Erfolg unter der “Ägide” des Berliner Regimes. Übrigens, während meines nun fünfzig jährigen Aufenthaltes hier in der “Bundesrepublik” wird mir noch stetig eingebleut, daß die “Vorstellung” (“Vision” sogar!) eines kulturell unterdrückungslosen “europäischen” “Hauses” nach all diesen Jahrzehnten immer ein Hirngespinst bleiben wird. Unserem lieben Herrn sei Dank! Dabei werde ich es belassen, obgleich noch vielmehr hinzuzufügen wäre.
Grüße,
Horatio Nelson.