He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more, but he that loses his courage loses all.

Miguel de Cervantes (Spanish writer, 1547 – 1616)

11.6.16

I’m afraid this is a very short, non-literary blog this week. I chose the quotation because of the debate over the EU Referendum, which goes round and round and round and round, with (increasingly) more heat than light. You may be sick of it, but I’m not – I’m just sick of the TONE. How nasty people can be! I thought Amber Rudd’s jibes at Boris Johnson during the TV debate absolutely disgraceful. Horrible. Low. Vulgar. I’m used to political knockabout stuff but that….Jesus! If we want to be nasty let’s say the woman looked like a dominatrix on duty, ready to give any hapless bloke a jolly good spanking. I found her and Eagle and Sturgeon harsh, insulting and negative. Which is what a lot of the debate is like. Yesterday I posted this on Facebook, and copy it here for the record:

“This is not a comment about politics but intolerance. As one who has always been able to see many sides of a problem, I find the current escalation of sneering – on the part of allegedly liberal-left people – about those who want to Leave the EU intolerable. The nasty tone of three women (I mean, Amber Rudd? She should be ashamed) on TV last night typified it. Before the last Election apparently intelligent, successful FB people informed me that it was impossible to vote Tory and be a compassionate person. (Yes, really…I know, it’s truly ignorant…) Now I read that it is impossible to be on the Leave side without embracing appalling Little Englander racism and being slightly thick. Then I get a message from a respected writer (whom I have never met) who tells me: ‘I am having to keep a lower profile because so many of my writer friends are leftie champagne socialist Remainers and I just do not want to row with them…Have been made to feel guilty, right wing and racist for agreeing with Brexit arguments. But this for me is such a massive political turning point and it pains me that it is stirring up so much hatred.’ There’s a shocking example of a highly intelligent person afraid to air a sincerely-held opinion because of elitist-consensus-bullying. Enough arrogance! Have the grace to see that there are two sides to this issue (obviously, why else a Referendum?) and it is not necessary to express contempt for those with whom you disagree in order to stand up for what you believe,

… I am for ‘Leave’ but don’t think it the ‘only sane choice’ – as one of my friends has said. Either way there will be a leap into the unknown. After all, how many people ten years ago could have predicted the current migration crisis? We’ve had numbers thrown wildly from both sides, and absurd predictions which can’t possible be backed up  – and so in the end every individual has to vote according to instinct and conscience. That leads me to reject the Eurocrats – just as I did in 1975. I consider my position as honourable, intelligent and valid as the other side – and of course I hope we leave. But I can show respect to all those (many of whom I love) who want to Remain – and feel saddened that they tend to shake their heads and turn away.”

So why the Cervantes quote? Because Project Fear (aka the Remain lobby) is threatening us all the time, but I say that if we leave the sclerotic, wasteful arrogant EU we may lose a little prosperity in the short term (but may not) and may lose friends at home and abroad (for a short while) – but if we are cowards and do not listen to our brave hearts and vote OUT we lose our sovereignty forever. And that really is to lose ALL.