2/ Many Brits are stunned to find themselves in a situation that appears unchangeable and dismal. Reactions range from disbelief, regret of not acting differently earlier, resignation, anger and sadness. “How could this have happened? “ is a question I heard countless times.
2/ Comparisons with 1933 Germany are made, and similarities are there. But nobody is really examining how Germany got over this (with Allied help) to develop the democracy they have now. Lessons of failures and successes could be learned
3/ What I always found difficult since living here was the strong upholding of #tradition for the sake of it. Now don’t get me wrong - many British traditions are endearing and attractive. But British society at all levels quite happily prevented critical scrutiny.
4/ I found this both stifling professionally and socially at times. The class system. The school system. The health system. The voting system. Tradition dictates what you are “allowed” to question and what you need to just accept. A nation that is brought up to not complain.
5/ A rich-poor divide that just ‘is’.
The inquiring me was told many times: “that’s just tradition here”. So I too fell in line and learned the ways.
I never met outright rebels against this status quo in the over 20 years I’m here, until the referendum.
The inquiring me was told many times: “that’s just tradition here”. So I too fell in line and learned the ways.
I never met outright rebels against this status quo in the over 20 years I’m here, until the referendum.
6/ There seems to me an ingrained fear of change. Ironically, that is probably what Cummings knows and so he proceeded to force it through. Which puts a nation into the passages seat of his stock car. What does it take for us to drive?
7) A clear list of things we want to change. The opposition movement, including Remain, is painfully slow in formulating a priority list. Bickering and reaction is to dead cats is hampering this. We should know what we want. Otherwise we won’t be heard.
8) Clear red lines. If overstepped, this should trigger public protest automatically. Many EU democracies are good at this. Protest not because someone organised it, but protest out of the urge to be heard. It can be everyday, small protest, even. #SayNo🤚
9) Direction. The bigger picture. What kind of nation do we want to be? It might require to break with traditions and to redefine what it means to be British. We are at the point where any #NewBritain will totally break with the old either way, #Leavers haven’t understood this.
10) Responsibility. Britain is terribly apologetic. Hours on end are spent contemplating the degree of culpability ob voters vs politicians. The latter serve us, but we voted. We need to teach people how to be responsible citizens on an ongoing basis.
11)Tradition can be maintained while recognising it as outdated.
The statue toppling was a good example. A different mindset to tradition would probably have resulted in an earlier review of appropriateness and a different approach to street art dealing with the matter.
The statue toppling was a good example. A different mindset to tradition would probably have resulted in an earlier review of appropriateness and a different approach to street art dealing with the matter.
22) It’ll be interesting to hear how many reformists are truly ready to depart from traditions. How far will Britain go? Is there enough potential for a sweeping change? This should occupy our minds.
12) ....sorry folks, did not mean to confuse
