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Brexit and Bregret: the importance

of informed voting

> Yes, your vote matters—that’s why we have votes

Rebecca Peterson
Staff Writer

 

he night of the Brexit vote,

my family and I watched in
mute horror as the online counter
showed the UK tilting towards
leaving the European Union (EU).
Even as the “Leave” votes pulled
ahead, I still had hope. It held at
51 per cent for quite a while. Such
a slim margin, and in the end, the
Brexiters only won by those few
percentage points.

It was heartbreaking,
infuriating, to see a campaign
built on misinformation and fear
succeed. But far worse was hearing
from many whod voted to leave
the EU the next day.

There is a new, fun mashed-up
word to rival the catchily-named
“Brexit”—it’s called “Bregret.” And
it’s something many Leave voters
are feeling now.

In statements to news outlets
and in hashtags on Twitter,
voters have expressed shock
and dismay that their vote to
leave the EU caused the UK
to leave the EU. Some say that
they felt misinformed. Others
have admitted that their vote
was meant as a protest vote and
that they never thought it would
matter. That there was no way the
vote to leave would win.

This likely provided much
solace and comfort to the
schoolchildren of colour and
citizens with accents that weren't
instantly identifiable as “British”
who have had people gleefully
shouting at them to get out of the

THE OTHER PRESS IS HIRING

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

country since the referendum.
There are many, many situations
in life that may cause you to wake
up the next morning and ask
yourself, “What the hell did I do
last night?” Voting for a decision
that can cause ripple effects
worldwide should not be one of
them.

For those who felt
misinformed, I have some
sympathy. The Leave campaign
told some hefty lies to get their
way, one being that they would
channel the money sent to the
EU into the National Health
Service, a promise that human
carpetbag and confirmed lizard
person Nigel Farage was quick
to backtrack on the very next
day. He cited it as a “mistake”
on the part of the campaign he
spearheaded, claiming that he
would never say that personally,
despite the fact that many citizens
who voted to leave took that
promise—which was widely
circulated in propaganda on buses
and billboards—as the reasoning
behind their decisions.

Those who voted to leave
simply because they hate
immigrants, I have far less
sympathy for. I can’t stand behind
a nation with a long and bloody
history of invading and destroying
other countries and cultures,
stating that the Polish couple who
moved in next door are attacking
their very way of life.

Those who I have no sympathy
for? The “protest” voters.

Your vote counts. Your
vote matters. Voting fora
ridiculous result simply to

express displeasure with the
“establishment” is the most
idiotic, destructively unhelpful
thing I can think of: No politician
is going to look at a vote to tank
your country’s economy and
close your borders and think
“clearly this person is trying

to tell us something nuanced
that has nothing to do with the
vote.” They’re probably going

to think that you want to tank
your country’s economy and that
you say the word “immigrant”
the same way Draco Malfoy says
“mudblood.” There are millions of
ways to protest and to make your
voice heard. The voting booth is
not the place to be sarcastic.

And for those who were
“misinformed,” as I said, my
sympathy is there, but it only
extends so far. Most issues of a
political nature have many facets.
You cannot only look at one side
of an issue and decide to stop
there. You cannot cast your vote
and then go home to research
the issue. The fact that one of the
most Googled phrases in Britain
on the day after the vote was “what
is the European Union?” is both
telling and depressing beyond
words.

Let this disaster stand
as a cautionary tale against
complacency and lack of critical
thought. Let it stand as an
example of what happens when
fear mongering wins. And let
us hope that our American
neighbours look at this vote, and
keep it well in mind when voting
this November.

MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

 

The Other Press is hiring for an Editor-in-Chief for the 2016/17 year. The
Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the editorial content of all seven sections of the
newspaper, including planning, editing, and overseeing production of each
week's issue.

Must haves:
- Extensive experience with editing, print, and online production
- Experience managing a diverse team of new and experienced writers and
editors
- A background in journalism
- Strong writing and editing experience
- Experience with the Other Press

Pay: $1,400/month
Interested? Send cover letter, resumé, and writing/other relevant samples to
editor @theotherpress.ca by July 15.

 

 

Are you about more than just plain ol words? Looking to build a visual portfolio while
developing your skills? The Other Press is hiring a Multimedia Editar!

The Multimedia Editor is responsible for creating regular content primarily for the
newspaper's online audience. The successful applicant will produce everything fram
videos for our YouTube channel to engaging graphics for the Feature each week as

well as assisting with overseeing the website.

Must haves:
-Video experience and equipment
-Understanding of video and photo editing software
-At least basic Knowledge of Wordpress

Pay: $500/month
Interested? Send a résumé and samples to editor@theotherpress.ca (position will be
open until filled).

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