29
Mar
A bizarre outcome
The date was set but nothing has happened. As many as 13 different protest groups descended on Whitehall on the day Britain was supposed to exit the EU, making 29th March a significant step towards regaining the country’s independence.
The placards carried throughout Westminster read:
‘I am one, we are 17.4 million’,
'For Britain - For Brexit',
‘Leave Means Leave’,
'Respect the vote',
‘Believe in Britain’,
'Bye Bye EU!',
'Please release me from the EU, let me go!',
'My leave vote matters, I won't be gagged',
'Screw EU, We Want OUR Country Back',
'Parliament versus the people'
'Let's take back control',
'No deal? No problem!',
'Leave then negotiate',
'Out now, deal later',
'Just leave',
'No EU', etc.
Tommy Robinson who is a special adviser to Ukip’s leader Gerard Batten, voiced the feeling of betrayal shared by thousands of Brexiteers when he said, ‘Today is supposed to be our Independence Day’.
The people have been marching and protesting for really long and EU might lay their hope on the British becoming tired but the great nation is faithful to the decision they made, stating today that they can wait few more days to finally break free as they have waited for 30 or even 40 years to start moving towards their goal.
Those who believe that ‘Leave Means Leave’ completely agree with Alan Shorter, 68, who reacted on today’s outcome with the following words: ‘I didn’t expect anything else. This is only the beginning of the fight but we are not going to leave’. This is the spirit that will create a better future not just for Britain but for many other countries who will follow in their footprints.
The concept of the spirit of the time belongs to the German philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte. In 1769, he wrote a critique of the work Genius saeculi by the philologist Christian Adolf Klots and introduced the new word Zeitgeist when simply translating the title from Latin to German: Genius > Geist (guardian spirit) saeculi > Zeit (of the century/age/time). However, the concept of the spirit of the time gained wider recognition only in 1807 when Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel developed a complex theodicy, based its conception on a philosophy of history, and formulated the terms Volksgeist (the spirit of the nation) and Weltgeist (the world spirit).
Generally, the philosophical and political spirit of different historical moments is reflected in the ideas and visions of certain periods of time. The Incident on King Street on 5th March 1770, and the Boston Tea Party – a political protest by the Sons of Liberty – on 16 December 1773 have resulted into the American War of Independence. Later, this historical event – Thirteen Colonies declaring independence as the United States of America – became the spirit of the time.
George III entered world history as a monarch who lost control over important American territories, but he did it in style and with dignity. One of the Founding Fathers, John Adams was appointed the first American ambassador to Great Britain in 1785. He had his first audience with the King on 1st June. Both sides expressed their eagerness to do all humanly possible to establish a good relationship between the two countries. George III told Adams, ‘I was the last to consent to the separation; but the separation having been made and having become inevitable, I have always said, as I say now, that I would be the first to meet the friendship of the United States as an independent power’.
Benjamin West aimed to commemorate Treaty of Paris on his famous canvas American Commissioners of the Preliminary Peace Agreement with Great Britain, which is considered to be unfinished as the British commissioners refused to pose.
While John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple Franklin are posing on the left, the right side of the picture is blurred; it is similar to a screensaver on a broken monitor. Still, Benjamin West’s canvas seems complete exactly this way, without the physical presence of the Britons, because the spirit of the time is non-materialistic.
In the end, the political philosophy of the Founding Fathers built a strong foundation for the success of the United States and thus, the spirit of the American nation (Volksgeist) has become the significant part of the world spirit (Weltgeist).
America still remains the world’s most powerful and influential nation today. Despite controversies in the domestic policy, the US keeps the leading position with their economic and political influence on the modern global community, and the military precision.
Clearly, the modern world spirit still mirrors the consequences of the American Revolution. Theoretically, Weltgeist is supposed to stay operational and active through the history of mankind. Brexit (the potential departure of the UK from the European Union) can be considered as a counterpart of Amexit (officially known as the American War of Independence).
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, ‘Brexit’ was first used by Peter Wilding on 15th May 2012 in his blog post Stumbling towards the Brexit. The author considers the eurozone crisis responsible for fundamental change in Britain’s relationship with Europe.
He analyses the current situation and tries to show some possible prospects through the past experience: ‘History has a habit of punishing drift. Usually, the people demanding firm leadership, fail to get it and become beguiled by easy options. Edward Grey and Neville Chamberlain may have brought war closer in 1914 and in 1939 simply because Germany was utterly unclear about how Britain would jump in the event of a crisis. We are at that stage now. Unless a clear view is pushed that Britain must lead in Europe at the very least to achieve the completion of the single market then the portmanteau for Greek euro exit might be followed by another sad word, Brexit’. Despite the gloomy forecasts about the British future in case of exit, a new word coined by Peter Wilding has been adopted and widely used by Brexit supporters who proudly call themselves ‘Brexiteers’.
In few days after the referendum on 23rd June 2016, The Daily News contributor Paul Friederichsen discussed the importance of choosing the right name in ‘media issue branding’ in politics: ‘The coining and adoption of a cause’s brand may occur by accident and become solidified from repetition in the media, or it may be an international creation... Either way, the right branding can become an amazingly effective predictor of the desired outcome. The latest example of this phenomenon is “Brexit”’.
The term ‘Bremain’ (as in Britain remaining in the EU) was offered as a term for the opposing side. However, the sides became labelled pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit, but always Brexit. Paul Friederichsen believes that ‘nothing shaped and defined the inevitable outcome as powerfully as this’.
Some of the Britons consider Brexit to be a progressive and positive step while others worry to face even more financial and social problems along with the political crisis for their country.
A real surprise is the Brexiteers adapting a truly American slogan, used by three American presidential candidates who won the White House later – Ronald Reagan in 1980s (‘Let’s make America Great Again), Bill Clinton in 1990s (‘I believe that together we can make America great again’) and late 2000s (‘Time to make America great again. I know Hilary is the one who can do it’), and Donald Trump in 2010s (‘We are going to make America so great again. Maybe greater than ever before’).
While 17.4 million people in the UK are eager to ‘make Britain great again’ through leaving the comfort zone of the EU, the British mainstream hesitates to share their enthusiasm. Even more, Dr Nadine El-Enany from the University of London considers ‘calls to “make Britain great again” draw on pseudo-intellectual defences of Empire’.
Richard Hartley-Parkinson’s article “Thugs chant Trump’s name and ‘make Britain great again’ as they trash bookshop” proves how serious the problem already is, and what to expect if the leadership does not become firm quickly enough.
As the authority and the media remain with their ‘eyes wide shut’, all they care is to buy some more time for ignoring the problem rather than trying to solve it. Because of their idleness, some people consider it their duty to act and protect the country.
Tim Martin, the founder of the JD Wetherspoon pub chain, told the Brexiteers: 'Anything you can buy from Europe you can buy from the rest of the world'. Indeed, there are so many countries queueing for such an opportunity.
Former governor of the Bank of England, Lord Mervyn King says Britain should leave Europe without a deal as there will be no recession if this happens. However, 'the entire political class is missing the point about Brexit' that leaving the EU is not about the economy at all.
Iceland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson enthusiastically backed British membership of Efta on a visit to London this week.
John Bolton, the president's national security adviser, said Mr Trump was ‘eager for the will of the British people to be carried out, and he is even more eager to do a trade deal’.
Along with the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Iceland, the Republic of Georgia, known as a country of agriculture, would eagerly join the supporters of the British economy and provide the freedom fighters with a mutually convenient trade deal.
There is hardly another old country in the world that knows the true price of freedom and independence. The Georgian experience is vivid proof that the fight for freedom is worth at any cost. At least, there are no neighbouring countries like ours that would create a war zone for Britain.
About 3 million Georgians have been fighting since 1803 while there are 17.4 million of the Britons fighting for independence. We had our referendum 28 years ago, on 31st 1991, and still have to fight for freedom and independence. Hopefully, it will be a bit easier on Britain.
Theresa May's deal was voted down by 58 votes in the Commons this afternoon. This is a victory that needs a solid backup. There is no perfect government, only people can be perfect. Britain does not fight just for own democracy and liberty but for all democracies in all countries in the world. Some of us do understand the situation and stand beside in support.
The spirit of the time describes the intellectual, cultural, ethical and political climate of a certain era, always reflecting an event from the past. The American Revolution belongs to the past which has created the United States.
King George III and his victories or defeats also belong to the past as an example of royal policy and diplomacy.
Today Brexit is a ‘living history’, but someday it will be part of the past, too, despite its outcome. When the current problem is solved for better or worse, it will blend into the spirit of the nation as one of its stages, fading away in history.
Burning the EU flag near Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square was symbolic for those involved. As the British fleet under Admiral Horatio Nelson defeated the combined fleets of France and Spain on 21st October 1805, any attempt to invade and control Britain will be defeated as well. The law-abiding English nation seems ready to break free towards true democracy despite the price this battle takes.
