When I was growing up "ex-pat" meant a western manager working with a western firm/institution on a western contract & expenses in a developing country or the Middle East.
Nobody ever used the word to describe poor British pensioners trying to get by on a state pension in Spain.
Nobody ever used the word to describe poor British pensioners trying to get by on a state pension in Spain.
https://twitter.com/DailyMirror/status/1379406784650076165
One doesnt have to call oneself an immigrant.
UK citizen will do.
But ex-pat is about the legacy of empire.
Its about wanting to claim a higher status of someone who has power in someone elses country.
Not an immigrant or foreign, but a privleged member of the British abroad.
UK citizen will do.
But ex-pat is about the legacy of empire.
Its about wanting to claim a higher status of someone who has power in someone elses country.
Not an immigrant or foreign, but a privleged member of the British abroad.
3/
But its actually worse than this.
Essentially the unexpressed logic behind this is that even the poorest Brit abroad is granted the status of "ex-pat"...
...while even the most skilled, qualified foreigner in Britain is an "immigrant" (excepting of course Americans).
But its actually worse than this.
Essentially the unexpressed logic behind this is that even the poorest Brit abroad is granted the status of "ex-pat"...
...while even the most skilled, qualified foreigner in Britain is an "immigrant" (excepting of course Americans).
4/
A lot of this is subconscious.
We can accept Brits emmigrating to NZ + Australia as that is for many: "us" (our realm).
The painful truth for many Brits is to accept Brits as immigrants in Europe - equal to european immigrants in UK.
Its the equality thats unacceptable.
A lot of this is subconscious.
We can accept Brits emmigrating to NZ + Australia as that is for many: "us" (our realm).
The painful truth for many Brits is to accept Brits as immigrants in Europe - equal to european immigrants in UK.
Its the equality thats unacceptable.
5/
As such its a pefect mirror of Brexit.
For many Leavers, despite all the protest, they can barely name an EU law they want replacing.
Its the equality of being 1-in-28 they hated.
The EU was to be punnished for not giving Britain the respect it felt Leavers deserved.
As such its a pefect mirror of Brexit.
For many Leavers, despite all the protest, they can barely name an EU law they want replacing.
Its the equality of being 1-in-28 they hated.
The EU was to be punnished for not giving Britain the respect it felt Leavers deserved.
6/
To be an immigrant in the EU, implies EU countries could be as good, if not better, than the UK.
To be 1-in-28 in EU implies equality - not superiority.
The ex-pat/Brexit issue is the same thing.
A disatisfaction with current status.
Its about our psychology - not Europe.
To be an immigrant in the EU, implies EU countries could be as good, if not better, than the UK.
To be 1-in-28 in EU implies equality - not superiority.
The ex-pat/Brexit issue is the same thing.
A disatisfaction with current status.
Its about our psychology - not Europe.
7/
Given all this the solution to our Brexit mess, as ive always argued, lies not in trade, politics & law, but in the psychology of Britain.
That is of course why so many flags are now needed.
Unless the English wake from this soon it will be the🏴that flies...and not the 🇬🇧.
Given all this the solution to our Brexit mess, as ive always argued, lies not in trade, politics & law, but in the psychology of Britain.
That is of course why so many flags are now needed.
Unless the English wake from this soon it will be the🏴that flies...and not the 🇬🇧.
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