As I innocently attempted to be a tourist this weekend, and check ‘Trafalgar Square’ off my 30 day list, I stumbled upon an Anti-Brexit march. I had no idea more than 10,000 people would be joining me on my excursion to this famous London landmark.
But I didn’t hate it.
Now, before we all get our undies in a bunch, this is not a post to proclaim my devotion to one side of Brexit, or another. Of course I have my opinions, but I’ve always been taught to never discuss politics with strangers. And the internet is 5792x worse.
So my options on that will be left out of it.
What I do want to discuss was the overwhelming experience I underwent while observing this march.
The typical tourist photo of Trafalgar Square will never be on my camera. I didn’t experience it through the lens of a tourist this day. I was a bystander to a historical moment in Britain’s legacy.
There was so much passion and unity from all of those marching towards House of Parliament.
I think the best message I could take from the whole ordeal was the one above. Intolerance should not, and will not, be tolerated. We have to be willing to accept the views, opinions, and religions of others, without things becoming nasty. We are living in a mad, mad world as it is.
It feels as though all of the political happenings around the globe are pulling countries apart, rather than uniting them.
My own country included. And it’s upsetting. We live in a world where people all over the globe are living in fear, on different levels and for different purposes. This should be a time where the world unites and attempts to help the human race as a whole, rather than dividing each other into categories and labeling strangers, of which we have no knowledge of their struggles and circumstances.
It’s more than just Britain remaining or leaving the EU.
Whatever helps the world, I am all for that option.
We get so consumed in our own daily life that we tend to forget there are entire countries experiencing life on a much different scale than our own. We all want to feel safe, we all want to feel significant, and we all want to feel free to be who we are. But we shouldn’t be entitled to those things simply because we were born in one country over another.
When did we become so selfish?
I am not perfect and I don’t always practice what I preach. But I try to. All of the ranting above, includes myself in those needing to better themselves. I want to gain understanding, tolerance, and acceptance of other views, opinions, and beliefs, different from my own.
I don’t mind people expressing their views, even if I don’t agree with them. That’s one of the liberties I’ve been granted from being born in my country. Why would I ever be nasty to someone else because of it, and turn a gift into a shameful thing?
Make your stand in the voting box.
Don’t bring others down in the process.
Rant complete.
Oh dear Rachel,
I hope you can keep this blog active and look back at it when you are in your 50’s or 60’s. I was a life long member of the liberal party until about 2009. I agree it would be a wonderful world if we could all, as you say, live together in peace while accepting each others differences. Unfortunately there is a lot of evil in this world and people who do not agree with us. I believe we are fortunate to have been born in the United States. Unfortunately, in order to keep our country a beakon of freedom, with the ability to take in people from other countries who want to live good honest lives in the US, there have to be laws and consequences for those who don’t follow them. This goes for US citizens as well as people who want to immigrate here. Your relatives, which are also mine, came to the US as legal immigrants – and not that long ago. On my mothers side (which is also your side) I am a 3rd and 4th generation American. (On my father’s side I am a 2nd generation American. My fathers parents immigrated here, legally, during WWI, eventually becoming citizens.) Can you imagine what would happen to the US if it opened its borders to EVERYONE who wants to come here, with vetting anyone. It wouldn’t be a pretty picture. Why? Because there are a lot of people in this world who would like to change the US and take away the freedoms we have. It’s wonderful to be accepting of all religions, but we also have to be wary of those whose beliefs call for them to destroy all those who don’t think like they do. There are also a lot of people like the members of MS 13, who don’t care about human beings and feel no remorse at killing. The US needs to remain strong and vigilant, securing our borders while at the same time doing all we can to help the rest of the world become a better place too. I’m not writing this as a political statement. It’s more a belief in my country and all it stands for….while at the same time being realistic about the problems the world is facing. I hope you read this with an open mind – I think you will, as your blog has shown me how much you’ve grown over the last few years – especially with all you’ve seen in your travels. Keep positive but also be aware of the world we live in. And don’t worry…if you disagree me, it’s ok. That’s part of why living in the US is so wonderful. In some countries you can’t openly disagree.
Hugs from Cousin Susan 😉 xo