Many years ago, as a family we drove to Italy where we had a great holiday. On the way there and back we passed through France, Germany and Switzerland. Following the freedom we had experienced in our travels, I recall saying on our return that “we left home as Brits and came back as Europeans”. My citizenship has not changed, in spite of what our country decided last week. <\/p>\n
Below is my post from Facebook, from the day before the vote. It was sad that not more of my fellow citizens agreed with me. <\/p>\n
Our European marriage is not over yet!
\nIn the 1970s I lived in Small Heath, in the East of Birmingham. Whenever I had the time and could afford the bus fare I used to take a trip to Coventry. I loved sitting in the new cathedral. I also walked around the ruins of the old one, learning a bit about how it had been bombed by the Germans. <\/p>\n
Then, one day I remember hearing that Tangerine Dream had performed in the cathedral, which I thought as odd since they were German. It taught me something about forgiveness and reconciliation. (Later, this was helped by a talk from the South African anti-racist activist, Revd Basil Manning at Woodbrook Christian College, Selly Oak. He explained that it was not enough to say sorry; one had to do sorry).<\/p>\n
Life carried on. <\/p>\n
It was not until the film Saving Private Ryan came out that I understood something about World War II. That year the Poppy meant something. <\/p>\n
This morning, while doing my Hospital Chaplaincy round, a patient asked me how I was going to vote. I told him I had all along been a Remain supporter. He said “me too”. He then began to tell me about WWII. He explained how we had obliterated Dresden, killing some 70,000 people, when we didn’t need to. <\/p>\n
So for me the fact that we belong to the same community as the Germans (and many others) means a lot. I have said that maybe one day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, (free) Kashmir…would similarly come together. <\/p>\n
The European Community may not be perfect. But its the best we’ve got. Its a longterm relationship which has somethings that need working on but that is not reason enough for a divorce. <\/p>\n
Let us stay together.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Many years ago, as a family we drove to Italy where we had a great holiday. On the way there and back we passed through France, Germany and Switzerland. Following the freedom we had experienced in our travels, I recall saying on our return that “we left home as Brits and came back as Europeans”. … <\/p>\n