Brexit dividing my family.

I've only lost brexiteer friends who suddenly became openly racist and nasty about their opinion

love0c, from another thread. Even our top civil servants know what is REALLY going on.

Alexandra Hall Hall, the lead envoy for Brexit in the British Embassy in Washington, said that she had become increasingly dismayed by the demands placed on the British civil service to deliver messages on Brexit which were not "fully honest."

Hall Hall, a 33-year veteran of the UK foreign service, and a former ambassador to Georgia, said UK institutions had been undermined and the reputation of British democracy abroad had been imperiled.

"I have been increasingly dismayed by the way in which our political leaders have tried to deliver Brexit, with reluctance to address honestly, even with our own citizens, the challenges and trade-offs which Brexit involves; the use of misleading or disingenuous arguments about the implications of the various options before us; and some behaviour towards our institutions, which, were it happening in another country, we would almost certainly as diplomats have received instructions to register our concern," she wrote in her letter, dated December 3.

"It makes our job to promote democracy and the rule of law that much harder, if we are not seen to be upholding these core values at home."

Hall Hall said she could no longer reconcile her commitment to the job with the demands made of her. "I am also at a stage in life where I would prefer to do something more rewarding with my time, than peddle half-truths on behalf of a government I do not trust," she wrote in the letter.

edition.cnn.com/2019/12/06/uk/top-british-diplomat-quits-brexit-intl/index.html

lemongrove ''I will not fall out with anyone for the way they voted in the referendum or the way they vote in any GE.
In my view there’s something wrong with people who do so.''

as said, I have not fallen out with anybody- but I have put distance. It is not about a 'vote' it is about the reasons to do so, the motives and the total lack of empathy for others who will be very seriously affected by said 'vote'. If you had children and grandchildren whose lives were going to be made very difficult, in so many ways, who will truly suffer because of that vote- and you refused to understand and see that- then ...

As for not saying how you voted - well I am sorry- but if you talk to people, and they tell you how they feel about x, y, z- or Johnson, or Corbyn- it is usually very obvious. I am afraid I come from a family, and so does OH, where we talk about all sorts, and not just the weather, village gossip and platitudes- thank goodness.

And then you ‘distance’ them because they don’t share your views? What if your own children/grandchildren didn’t share your views on every single thing? Please tell me you wouldn’t do the same to them? Does everyone in your circle have to agree with you, on everything, all the time?

You surprise me as I consider you to be broader minded than that jura2

I distance myself from people who are openly racist and they usually turn out to be people that don't share my political views.

I too put distance between myself and people with a lack of empathy for how their decisions affect others, especially their own grandchildren

Pantglas - as Labaik so rightly said- I will distance myself from people with racist or fascist views - and thank goodness this does not apply from my children. We have friends from all ages, all backgrounds and religions and views - but none are racist or fascist. It is not about 'sharing views'- but sharing deep values, that takes into account our family history and background.

What really worries me these days are the number of people that make openly racist comments with the assumption that everyone agrees with them.

In other words those who disagree with your decision Starblaze God help us.

Indeed- and really shocking.

My mum was studying in Munich in 1932- she saw it all building up, and the racist comments that slowly turned into shops being graffitied, then damaged, then destroyed. Racist comments turned into spitting, then smacks, then beatings.

She always told me she regretted not saying anything, not reporting what she saw back home. After 6 months, she left and returned home - never saying anything to the other students who were well off, good looking, intelligent - and slowly turning into the Nazi Elite...

Such saintly behaviour by some ?.....not! What they are saying is:
I distance myself from those who don’t think the same as I do.They mustn’t have any moral compass or empathy if they think differently to me.
Well hello! Get down from those high horses.
Unless people you know are unpleasant racists, start thinking
That they came to their decision on voting after careful thought.So what if it was not what you voted for.

not worth responding as you are not reading posts...and choosing to misinterpret. So 'out'.

I think what some of us have tried to point out is that we knew people who were racist but became more openly so after Brexit and they, surprisingly turned out to be Brexit supporters. and, d'y'knowwhat; I do actually think I'm better than someone who is openly racist . What do you do, lemon, when people make racist comments? Do you just think they're entitled to their opinion, bless them?

Not everything is about you jura2 ....my point was a general one.

If you knew people who were racist before brexit, I'm surprised you didn't distance yourself long ago.

Fortunately Labaik there are no racists in my family and friends circle.

Well exactly MissA ??

..oh, and, by the way mrs 'i'msotolerant'. You're the one that instantly jumped on the OP accusing her of being left wing/momentum; not even a 'hi, welcome to gransnet' from you because you thought she was a 'leftie'....

well, before Brexit, and in the USA, before Obama and then Trump- it was hidden and not openly expressed. Ooops said 'out'- so best log off now.

So you didn't know they were racist then?

No not at all, I'm not anti leave voters just those who did it for reasons of racism rather than reasons of genuinely thinking they were doing their best for the younger generation.

Labaik when you see a new name never seen before, and there is a Momentum link put on with the post, just a week before a GE, urging you to vote Labour, well........

If you knew people who were racist before brexit, I'm surprised you didn't distance yourself long ago

I asked that very same question at 17.15 MissA but got no response. It seems so obvious! Why would you have anything to do with anyone, on any level, if you know, thought or suspected that they are racist?

My family mostly voted leave, with two remainers. It hasn't caused us any stress, division or bad feeling, though. We understand each other's views and respect each other's choices. I would hope that most families are the same.

I think they are Hetty; for most of us anyway.