According to a poll taken yesterday, 61% of its population think the United Kingdom is in crisis. The reason? Why, Brexit of course. The ongoing saga reached new depths last night when Prime Minister Teresa May’s proposed Withdrawal Agreement was defeated by over 200 votes in Parliament. This triggered the Labour opposition calling for a vote of no confidence in her leadership.
That vote will be tonight and, no doubt, front page news tomorrow morning. The television news has almost exclusively led on Brexit for months now. It’s everywhere, you cannot escape it wherever you turn. Even Donald Trump is tweeting about it which, I guess, makes a change from building walls. Northern Ireland certainly has had its share of walls down the years, primarily to keep our opposing communities from killing each other.
Northern Ireland lies at the heart of the dilemma. If the U.K. withdraw then it causes all sorts of problems regarding the ‘invisible’ border between ourselves and the neighbouring Republic of Ireland. It’s a logistical and trade nightmare. The threat of a ‘hard border’ terrifies many. Unionists insist it will lead to a weakening of the relationship between our little country and the so called mainland.
I went for a run this afternoon. The sun was shining and I was surrounded by blue skies and mild temperatures. I ran two miles out of the city to a park where I completed two circuits of an idyllic lake, inhabited by graceful swans and inquisitive ducks. After three weeks of sickness, I was finally starting to feel healthy again. I forgot the worries of my world for an hour and focused on the next mile, the next bend in the road, the next step.
I know crisis. Often it has been self inflicted, but on other occasions it has been simply life pulling the carpet from under our feet as only life can. You’re drifting along minding your own business when BAM! Your world collapses around you. Be it bereavement, illness or financial hardship we’ve all been there at one time or another. Crisis is as much part of life as the air we breathe.
We often become desensitised to the true meaning and impact of the words we casually throw about. How many of the 61% who took that poll will sleep in a doorway tonight or worry where their next meal is coming from? How many are picking up the telephone to be informed that a loved one has been killed in a road crash or diagnosed with a terminal illness? How many?
Brexit sucks and, yes, it will impact many people. But is it really a crisis? I didn’t feel in crisis today as I ran out of the city centre. I was alive and grateful. Grateful that I could run and had a well paid job to return to afterwards. Grateful to drive home to a loving and supportive family. Grateful to have loyal friends, willing to stick with me through the good times and the bad.
I’m proud to be one of the 39%. Count your blessings and not your woes. Love your loved ones and block out your foes. I’ve spent most of my life wallowing in a half empty glass, but no more. Even if it’s only 39% full I’m going to focus on it and not the ‘what if or could have been’ culture which blinkers many of us. Brexit will come and go, just like the many other temporary storms sent to test us. Look beyond them. For there lie the blue skies.
Are you a 61% or a 39% kind of person?
Black Thoughts 
My only comment is that trump needs to stay out of your politics. He can’t handle what he has here in the USA.
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😂
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You said all there is to say. Beautiful. True. Genuine. The essence of life. Thank you for this inspiring comment about political events.
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You’re very welcome. I hope you are well.
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Well said!
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It depends on the issue. Brexit will affect millions of people and where they live.
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I am one of those millions and agree with you. But, to me, there are more important things in life.
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But you are a citizen of Ireland and UK, no? And live there? I’m talking about those living elsewhere in Europe or EU residents living in UK.
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Very nicely put
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Thank you 😊
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So true! I have quit watching the news here in the USA because everything is now a crisis. And depending on which network you watch it is either all Trump’s fault or he is the only one who can fix it. Common sense seems to be completely gone from politics. Sorry for the problems in the UK but it has given our news people a chance to talk about something besides our crisis here.
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I think it’s worldwide. The planet is going mad.
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How would a hard border affect you? I’ve been reading about Brexit all day to avoid hearing the orange man in Washington.
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I’m reminded of the furore around Y2K (Year 2000) and the IMMENSE effort that was put into that and the fear of the chaos that might ensue… What happened? Very little, if anything. Nobody died (as far as I know, at least as a result of it) and life continued on the 1st January, pretty much as before. Brexit is the same. It’s like a soap opera or even a thriller, where nobody knows what will happen next or whodunnit (or whowilldoit). I live in a country, not in the EU, surrounded by the EU, and I can drive over the border seamlessly. I drive or catch a plane to Italy, France or Spain and never have to show my passport, but come back to Britain, my homeland, and I queue with everyone else to prove that I’m a legitimate visitor. It’s no wonder I hate politics. Grrrr…
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Yes, it’s all hyped up by the media. You’re better off where you are believe me lol.
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There’s a saying in journalism: “it it bleeds, it leads”. Gruesome, isn’t it? Yet people are drawn to drama – whether manufactured or not. I am of that 39% you speak of – I am so sick of Brexit; of Trump: of doom and gloom. And it’s a way of keeping us distracted, isn’t it? To me it’s a lot of smoke and mirrors while the powers that be do whatever they’re going to do.
Life is short, I am glad you are not caught up in the “crisis”. Thanks for the reminder that life does go on – the world is not coming to an end, the sky is not falling – despite what Henny Penny may say.
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Or Chicken Little 😂
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Oooops wrong reference – where did I get Henny Penny from? LOL memory failure – aw well you caught the gist of it haha
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😂😂😂
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I’m with you! You could be one of the half million in the US employed by the US government and not getting paid. I’ll take your May and give you our Trump any day.
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Hmmmmm. Not sure that’s a fair swap 😂
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If I throw in money?
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Deal 😂
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I majored in Political Science and Radical Political Economy when I was at university. As such, I’m a bit of a political junkie. That being said, there are folks here in my neighborhood with far bigger problems than a Brexit or a insane border wall. If I’m going to be concerned about anything it needs to be here at home – loving God and loving others seems to cover it.
I am curious though… The Editor of the Irish Times was asked earlier today about Irish reunification after this whole Brexit thing. He noted that Irish nationalism was somewhat diminished in the Republic. Is it the same in Northern Ireland?
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I don’t know. I’m from a different side of the community so you’re asking the wrong person.
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Love your attitude and stand about it all! Truly admire it and agree with it!
You ‘do’ have common sense ;)! /referring to your last post/ 🙂
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Thank you. Not sure I agree but I appreciate your support 🙂
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I don’t watch the news any more. It’s just telling us the same things that might happen (but nobody knows). The uncertaintly is more damaging (to the economy and to the nation’s mental health) than any decided outcome.
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You’re very wise. Unfortunately it’s permanently on in the office where I work.
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😦
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I’m with you in the 39 percent.😊
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I’m glad you are 🙂
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Politically, I lean towards the percentage of the population that’s scratching their heads, looking at the shenanigans, and wonder what on Earth is going on? It’s these people that keep Earth from being visited by visitors from space 👽😜
I don’t want to buy into the media show, or the smoke and mirrors, or any of the rest of it. I try to focus on making it through to the next step.
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It’s all we can do. Any aliens planning to invade should give us a wide berth 😂
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Ah, the magic of a run to take away the cares of the world and it’s current crisis. The Wall and the Shutdown have no effect on my little world.
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Yes, running always helps 😊
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Be thankful they are not demanding a wall around you! And the only crisis is a president and congress that are immature and unable to compromise.
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It sounds a bit of a mess on both sides of the Atlantic 😟
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I am definitely a “no crisis” kind of person. I have lived with a chronic illness for years and understand the difference between a crisis and a chronic situation. This is definitely chronic… as is our ‘need’ for a border wall. Immigration in the US is not a crisis either… it is a mess, but not a crisis. I think we are on the same wavelength.
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Most definitely 😊🙏🏻
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