To be honest, I'm not sure I can. You got any ideas? The land over the water has been taken over by a fascist tangerine. Purple meanies are running amok here. It's like the 70's has turned up, bringing its casual -isms with it and signs saying, "No blacks, no dogs and no Irish" and declared them acceptable forms of expression again. (They're not. Never were. Never shall be).
Read and Talk About Stuff
Not just the headlines, but the text of the article to see who is saying and doing what. Read from a variety of sources to get different opinions. Talk about things with others. To quote Dumbledore, which I'll be doing quite a bit today as the annual Harry Potter-a-thon has just finished: "Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts open". Try not to end up in a bubble of like minded people. It makes for lazy discussions, flabby arguments and horrible surprises when people you like disagree with you.
Being charming and likeable and having reactionary opinions aren't incompatible. I know lovely people who are thrilled by the current turn of events. It would be great if everyone with diferent views was a complete arse-biscuit and everyone who agreed with us was utterly delightful, but that's not the case. The Lord decided to mess with our heads with that one. Probably for our own good. Being able to disagree whilst remaining on good terms with someone is an important life skill. As is knowing when to keep quiet because it's just not worth it.
Being charming and likeable and having reactionary opinions aren't incompatible. I know lovely people who are thrilled by the current turn of events. It would be great if everyone with diferent views was a complete arse-biscuit and everyone who agreed with us was utterly delightful, but that's not the case. The Lord decided to mess with our heads with that one. Probably for our own good. Being able to disagree whilst remaining on good terms with someone is an important life skill. As is knowing when to keep quiet because it's just not worth it.
Act
Find something you can do - write to your MP, sign and circulate a petition, wave a placard at a rally, volunteer to help at a food bank etc. Even small things like smiling at people or giving up your seat to someone who needs it make a difference. Doing something practical or kind makes you feel more powerful. I hesitate to write, take back control, but ... Thanks for ruining that expression for ever Vote Leave. Support and encourage others in what they're doing.
John's gospel says: "The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out."
Dumbledore says similar: "The important is to fight and fight again, for only can evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated". And: "Dark times lie ahead of us and there will be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right". Ouch!
John's gospel says: "The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out."
Dumbledore says similar: "The important is to fight and fight again, for only can evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated". And: "Dark times lie ahead of us and there will be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right". Ouch!
Laugh
In Harry Potter, a boggart manifests as your worst fear. The only way to defeat it was to laugh at it. Fight back with love and laughter. Dumbledore: "Happiness can be found in the darkest times, if only one remembers to turn on the light".
Switch Off
When it gets too much, switch off, change the subject and do whatever it takes to make yourself and others feel better. This enables you to fight the good fight another day.
Fingers crossed for a few days of calm, hey?!