The recent UK referendum about whether or not to continue our membership of the European Union has prompted me to consider the meaning of my British identity. Much of the referendum campaigning has focused on questions of how Britain could be ‘great’. Typically this term is being used to imply superiority over orher nations, a use that irks me. Worse still, some of the voices in the campaign to leave the EU were overtly xenophobic, even using nazi-style imagery to expound their anti-immigration messages. Worst of all the referendum has sparked a massive increase in racist and xenophobic hate crime, with immigrants and British people of colour being told to ‘go home’. These are all views, attitudes and behaviours that I wholeheartedly reject.
The Britain I love is best seen in my hometown, where a diverse community lives together in reasonable harmony, with many business and social endeavours, friendships, and marriages joining together people who are ethnically, culturally or religiously different. This inclusive friendliness is what characterises my ‘Great Britain’. I delight when immigrants and their descendants identify themselves as British, as during the queen’s diamond jubilee when local shops and businesses owned by British Asians adorned their premises with union jacks. WTG!
In light of this soul searching, and to celebrate my inclusive Britain, I have decided to offer a discount for the ‘A Great British Knit’ digital pattern (Ravelry download). Throughout July this pattern will be available with a 20% discount. To get the discount add the pattern to your basket, then enter the coupon code TOGETHER during checkout.
Let’s be great, ie be excellent to others!
