The UK has a lot of nerve. Its nerve is a theme throughout history, and as we’ll explore today, the country has a sense of superiority that causes a lot of general confusion in the rest of the world. For example: Brexit. The UK, a small island in the middle of the freezing Atlantic Ocean, left a well functioning alliance to fend for itself. It confounds me. As one of the many people who has no idea what Brexit actually means, I would like to inform you that on January 1st, the UK left the European Union even more than it already had. What does this entail for regular people in Britain? More transition periods? More tariffs? Freer trade? These are some terms I picked up reading BBC, all of which sound far more daunting than just…. I don’t know……… staying in the EU.
So, the UK left the EU even more than it had already left when we heard about Brexit last time, in 2016. All I could really gather from the articles I read is that now, residents of the UK will need visas to stay in the EU for over 90 days. Companies will also have to complete “paperwork” when transporting goods out of the UK. Somehow, none of this sounds like it benefits anyone. If you happen to know what I am missing, please leave me a comment.
I have come to accept that as a foreigner and a generally confused person, I will never understand Brexit. And this is an unfortunate truth because it doesn’t look like Brexit is going anywhere any time soon. In fact, some decisions of the utmost importance still need to be discussed (use of passive voice because, again, no one knows who is actually making the exit part of Brexit happen). A few of the issues at hand are: data sharing, financial services and fishing. If you weren’t convinced that Brexit is a joke already, the fact that those three areas are under the same phase of Brexit should change your mind.
Until the next installment of TD Brexit commentary -- in 2026 when the current fishing agreement expires -- I encourage you to contemplate the audacity of the UK to colonize half the world and then decide they’re better off alone.
For more info on Brexit: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887
Racism and the Brexit vote: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/25/the-uncomfortable-question-was-the-brexit-vote-based-on-racism/
So, the UK left the EU even more than it had already left when we heard about Brexit last time, in 2016. All I could really gather from the articles I read is that now, residents of the UK will need visas to stay in the EU for over 90 days. Companies will also have to complete “paperwork” when transporting goods out of the UK. Somehow, none of this sounds like it benefits anyone. If you happen to know what I am missing, please leave me a comment.
I have come to accept that as a foreigner and a generally confused person, I will never understand Brexit. And this is an unfortunate truth because it doesn’t look like Brexit is going anywhere any time soon. In fact, some decisions of the utmost importance still need to be discussed (use of passive voice because, again, no one knows who is actually making the exit part of Brexit happen). A few of the issues at hand are: data sharing, financial services and fishing. If you weren’t convinced that Brexit is a joke already, the fact that those three areas are under the same phase of Brexit should change your mind.
Until the next installment of TD Brexit commentary -- in 2026 when the current fishing agreement expires -- I encourage you to contemplate the audacity of the UK to colonize half the world and then decide they’re better off alone.
For more info on Brexit: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-32810887
Racism and the Brexit vote: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/25/the-uncomfortable-question-was-the-brexit-vote-based-on-racism/