I woke up to my Twitter timeline blowing up over Brexit. If you don’t know what Brexit is, I’m sorry you don’t follow major world events that could ultimately affect your future or your children’s futures in some way, shape, form or other. There’s nothing I can really do for you if this is the case. I suppose a well-wish of Godspeed back to your bubble is about all I can offer you. Perhaps the next time you choose to emerge from beneath your Unaware Rock, something more to your liking or level of understanding will be taking place such as who won The Voice or which Bachelorette got the boot. If you are this person, this post is exactly for you, but because it will likely make you think about things beyond what’s right in front of your face, you may not want to read it.
So let’s start there, shall we? WANT – a four letter word that indicates a desire to possess or do. We want freedoms and choice and all of the amazing wonderful things independence affords us, but what we don’t always want is to own the responsibility demanded to maintain those freedoms. We don’t take the time to understand how our government works nor our role in it. We don’t appreciate the gravity of each elected official’s influence on our laws and ultimately our lives. We casually accept that every vote we place barely registers as a blip on the legislation radar when in fact it often has global reaches well beyond Capitol Hill. I think Miranda Priestly’s explanation about how the world really works should be used in all government classes.
Now let’s talk about this:
Seeing this, my stomach sort of does this thing. It reacts of its own accord, stirring and grumbling and what is that? Oh yeah, tossing bile back at me to spew upon the Earth as a visual representation of what ignorance is. Half-digested harmful thoughts irresponsibly tossed about to the detriment of societies everywhere. This “Leave” voter was just one of many who could have illustrated today’s reminder of people seeing only what they want to see.
Here it is – I may not know the latest conflict being had in the Middle East, but I’d like to think I have at least an average command of all the conflicts’ over arching themes. I may not get what goes on behind North Korea’s closed doors, but I do get what North Korea having nuclear missiles means. I may not comprehend all of the ins and outs of Wall Street, but I sure as shit understand how the stock exchange directly affects me. The world turns beyond our walls and the lousiest thing we can do is act like what happens in it doesn’t involve us or that we have zero influence over anything beyond that contained in our daily routines.
Brexit has been drawing parallels to the upcoming US election in November. I can see why that is. Everyone has a choice this fall, as everyone in the UK had a choice regarding that referendum. The choice is not limited to either-or in regards to Brexit OR our own forthcoming presidential election. Abstention is also a choice (albeit not a wise one in my book). Kudos, by the way, to the UK for getting a 72% voter turnout whilst our last election saw just shy of 58%. Our votes matter. I think those in the UK and beyond would agree wholeheartedly with that today. Sit up and pay attention. We are all affected by the events unfolding on that little island overseas, some of which may not be seen for years, but trust me when I say it’s a whole new world we’ve entered into due to the results of that one referendum . The people spoke and now we watch as the dominos fall.
My biggest frustration over the years has been hearing people complain about politics and platforms and bills and amendments only to find out they fall into one of two camps.
1) They didn’t vote.
2) They only had half the facts as they walked into their polling place and cast a ballot.
Almost nothing infuriates me more than this. You don’t have to share my opinion, but for God’s sakes, own yours. Be informed before you walk to the poll. And PLEASE WALK TO THE POLL. Know your stuff before you check the ballot box. If you are fortunate enough to live in a democratic state, no matter your political leanings, it matters that you participate in your government’s decision making process. If Brexit, hanging chads, and recent House sit-ins have shown us anything, it’s that every vote counts. Your. Vote. Counts. Who you put in that office to speak on your behalf counts.
So in the wake of such a huge event like the UK leaving the EU, I would suggest Americans learn the lesson pretty damn quickly and begin preparing for this fall – educate yourself. Understand what the candidates are really saying and what they stand for. Don’t let pre-conceived notions and hearsay make your decisions for you. Just like those dealing with the consequences of the Brexit referendum, which truly does affect us all, there will be costs greater than we can predict when we next step inside the voting booth. I’m not just talking presidents. I’m talking senators and representatives as well. Each person you pick to represent you plays a part that ripples in a way you may never have imagined.
The UK has a lot to deal with over the coming months and years. Whether we agree with the result of yesterday’s vote or not, whether they were educated votes or not, we can all agree that a good majority stood up and had a say. We will be able to do the same this fall? Will we educate ourselves? Or will we continue to stand idly by with our heads buried in the sand? Be a citizen not a stand-in.
