Danllan
Member
- Location
- Sir Gar / Carms
Gosh, I’m impressed with your knowledge of Eire.
Now as to us being a region in Europe. Economically you are correct. The globe is now a minuscule place in terms of time and distance. We quite frankly have little other choice other than to be a very small part of a much larger economic entity. It doesn’t bother us. Need to keep food in mouths of babes as they say.
Even the mighty Britain’s place in the world has changed from one of total economic and military dominance to one of economic and military partnership with old adversaries and colonies! And yes, I know that might well be hard to accept, but it’s a reality. Of course the Tory party or a large part thereof have yet to come to terms with that reality. Their denial and blatant daily incompetence in the exit process now started, threatens to seriously damage Britain.
I've enough family and friends in the Republic to have a fair bit of ken to history and so forth, and a mild interest in the politics and history, but an outsider can never really fully understand a foreign country and would be a fool to think he could.
To quote the great Palmerston '...We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow...' Our interest is now toward self determination, once again, so we shall follow it. I disagree with your prognosis but, even if it were true, why should we be any less able than the Irish to recover from incompetent politicians? We'll be fine.
I'm no apologist for the Empire, nothing lasts forever, everything changes, but I don't see us as needing to be a vassal state within the EU, and can not tolerate being so at the expense of our democracy. Fortunately a majority of my country men agreed in the referendum. Most people I know who voted to remain do not think we are being unreasonable in the current 'talks'.
Again, I think we'll be fine, and I think you in Ireland will be likely to follow sooner or later. But, if I am wrong and @czechmate is right, you will have us back with our tale between our legs and over a barrel. You have told us before that you would be glad for us to do well, so it would seem that you are in the fortunate position of being in a 'win, win' situation: if we fail and slink back to the EU, your power-block will have us on its own terms and our money forever; and yet, if we succeed, you will applaud us, cheer us on, enjoy and, no doubt, share in our prosperity.
@RagnarHairybreeks you write of the UK as it is, I have written of what we needs must become, don't fall for Remoaner doom and gloom stories, that seek to underestimate / undersell this country. Explain to me what is inherent in us, as a people, that means we can't once again make our own laws, lead the world in innovation and set ourselves up as a preeminent international trader. We did it all before, we effectively invented it all; what's wrong with us now? Have some faith in your own people.