What does 'I want my country back' mean to you'?

[Blue4ever]

That's it really. I just want to know what people mean by that. I am not British, I came to live in London 20 years ago, and I just don't know what to make of it - considering that one of my work colleagues keeps on putting it on her Facebook page, and she works at my children's school.

It means the UK have political and economic autonomy

I never feel so British as when I've been living abroad - which is half my adult life. I feel like my country has gone with this referendum, and I'd like the country back which was outward looking, free thinking, funny, ironic and something I could be proud of.

When people say they want their country back, I assume they are people who haven't understood what the European project was all about, have only read propaganda and not text books, and don't understand that now we will probably be left in a position where we will be bound by the rules, but in no position to make or change those rules. Pretty fucking stupid then, really. Or rather, I wouldn't have minded them being so stupid, but now they've fucked my life and my DC's life up, I'm pretty livid with them for not having a law degree or an economics degree, but just voting "with their heart" like it was the X-factor. I'm really, really sorry for anyone who feels that they are not welcome in this country after the vote, and all I can say is - not in my name, and if I am there when anyone is being bullied or shouted at, I will say my piece.

Yep, I'm still livid.

I never feel so British as when I've been living abroad - which is half my adult life. I feel like my country has gone with this referendum, and I'd like the country back which was outward looking, free thinking, funny, ironic and something I could be proud of.

When people say they want their country back, I assume they are people who haven't understood what the European project was all about, have only read propaganda and not text books, and don't understand that now we will probably be left in a position where we will be bound by the rules, but in no position to make or change those rules. Pretty fucking stupid then, really. Or rather, I wouldn't have minded them being so stupid, but now they've fucked my life and my DC's life up, I'm pretty livid with them for not having a law degree or an economics degree, but just voting "with their heart" like it was the X-factor. I'm really, really sorry for anyone who feels that they are not welcome in this country after the vote, and all I can say is - not in my name, and if I am there when anyone is being bullied or shouted at, I will say my piece.

Yep, I'm still livid.

sorry about the double post. I'm that cross!

It's a statement - sound bite if you like - used to persuade people towards a particular political agenda.

It's deliberately vague and broad enough that it may mean different things to different people, but also persuasive enough that a sufficiently large number of people will engage with it in order to achieve the desired political outcome.

So some people might interpret it as "I want the street I live in to look like it did when everyone who lived here was English" whereas another person might think "I want only the British govt to pass legislation that applies to me, and not a European one".

It means nothing to me personally because I won't engage with the particular political agenda that I think it represents.

I feel like my country has gone with this referendum, and I'd like the country back which was outward looking, free thinking, funny, ironic and something I could be proud of.

I'm not British, but this is the country I feel has been lost, too.

I spent my formative years growing up on Narborough Road - the road with the most different nationalities of business owners in the UK. I bloody love that road with all of my heart. I smile every time I go, to see everyone living together, working together, smiling together. It's a synergy; we are all worth more together. It's a busy, eclectic, happy street. With so many wonderful memories for me.

My heart was breaking on Friday when I walked there. I can't believe that it is streets like ours that inspired such hatred.

But Narborough Road is what represents MY country. And I am PROUD to share it with my friends from around the world.

SanityClause

It is not your Europe it isn't anyone's anymore, England is a big county and one of the richest countries, I was born here as well as my parents.

I've never ever had a problem with people and immigrants coming to this country, if they want to come here they should be allowed to.

It's makes me sick hearing people saying "they come here that get houses and benefits and everything"

What kind of life is claiming benefits and not owning your own house, I wouldn't be able to life happy on benefits and not own, who would really purposely want that?

*It's makes me sick hearing people saying "they come here that get houses and benefits and everything"

What kind of life is claiming benefits and not owning your own house, I wouldn't be able to life happy on benefits and not own, who would really purposely want that?*

Your post makes no sense!
Can you not see that is the situation which is being created or exacerbated by mass immigration? The market forces of supply and demand are being skewed! the price of unskilled labour is being pulled down by the increase in supply, coupled with the demand for housing being driven up by the increasing population

What Grumpy said:

'I feel like my country has gone with this referendum, and I'd like the country back which was outward looking, free thinking, funny, ironic and something I could be proud of.'

That's how I feel too.

But if I saw some using that phrase I'd assume they were about to spout a load of racist nonsense. If it was someone at my kids school as mentioned upthread bandying it about, I would be keeping a close eye on the situation. Racist dog whistle as PP rightly said.

I feel like my country has gone with this referendum, and I'd like the country back which was outward looking, free thinking, funny, ironic and something I could be proud of.

What grumpy said too. 👏 For grumpy

Although did we ever actually have that, or was it just an illusion?

I have waded through a plethora of Ill thought out, rascist, batshit & reactionary posts on the subject since the country decided (for whatever reason) to implode itself last Friday. There have been some ludicrous said from remainers as well as exiters but, I must say that Grumpy has made some brilliant points here. Well said

It means nothing to me and I hate hearing it.

To a lot of my mum's friends where she lives (East Midlands market town) means having fewer Polish people around. It is true that when you go out shopping in the town centre now, you hear a lot of Polish being spoken and see a lot of Polish shops. Many people don't like it.

Do they even know why?

It is an ignorant and racist thing to say.

Thing is, I have to go to work with that person, and so many immigrants have to go out to work with people who say that and think it as a 'I want my England without immigrants' back. I would like you wise people to suggest what I should do, say, or not say. I have tried to avoid that person, and any conversation Regarding immigration all week. (And people tend to stop talking about it when I walk into the room, which is what happens at a fitness session earlier this week, people mumbling about politics in a corner and shutting up when I come in). What should I do? Smile at them when they smile at me? It is after all me and my family they are talking about when they feel that 'we' have taking 'their' country away from them? I just want to ignore and block out, but it's harder than it looks.

I'm not really sure why that was addressed to me, Heart.

I'm sad we are leaving the European Union. I would like the leave vote not to have happened.

I am an immigrant (not from Europe) so of course I have no issue with other immigrants in the UK. My experience of employing immigrants in the UK is that they tend to be hard working people. I can't think of any we have employed who have been otherwise. I think if you get off your arse, and immigrate to another country for a better life, you are less likely to be the type of person who will be work shy.

It is possible that there are some who have come here as benefits tourists. But the only person I know who works the system is white British.

OP, please ask your colleague what they mean. I wonder if they even know?

I think it means a small minded outlook where the rest of the world is far away & don't bring their problems here and we don't have much opportunity or reason to think about other kinds of people or any other perspective.

Imagine living in a backwater Russian federation country. Nobody much else different is around. Nice enough people, and they all have the same history, religion, skin colour, culture, education, priorities, limited personal expectations. Not much happening. You have no opinions anybody on the world stage would listen to. Your economy doesn't matter beyond your borders. You don't have an international leadership role. Or a military that goes beyond your borders. Nobody defers to your opinions on global problems. That's what "my country back" suggests to me.

It feels like the battle cry of a ignorant bigot.

I am ashamed of how we look right now. Shamed to my core. I cringe when I think about going overseas now and will be putting on my Scottish flag on the back of my car and getting rid of the GB sticker. Thank god I am Scottish!

I feel no pride in living in England. None. I am an wearing my safety pin with pride and hoping that all the beautiful intelligent people who CHOSE to come to the UK will stay. and the rabid stupid fuckwits who knocked my sons dad unconscious and blinded him in one eye last night, just because he's Polish can go to hell.

*sons friend that should say. Not my DH.

It means "I am an ignorant xenophobic bigot"

Hope this helps.

Personally, I want my continent back.

There was an older mother and her two daughters being interviewed on central news & they said (about brexit) "we voted out so now our country can get back to normal". Thick ignorants, what they meant was "we are racist pigs & want all foreigners to leave this country". There's no arguing with stupid.

What they don't realise is that there is no turning back the clock. Globalisation is here. So they are now going to have to "put up" with the immigrants they so hate and be poorer as a result of our leaving the EU.

It is not your Europe it isn't anyone's anymore,

It most certainly is still our Europe. And those of us who feel anger and betrayal at losing our EU citizenship will fight tooth and nail to rejoin the EU should Brexit go ahead.

nilbyname I am so sorry about what happened to your son's Dad

I want my country back too, I don't recognise this last week.