Waking up to a better tomorrow
Wipe away the sorrow and swallow our pride. Though this may not have been the outcome we wanted, this is where we are. And though it may not seem that way, the worst thing we could do is lose hope.
We know what we have to do.
We are hopelessly divided and riven by factionalism. We imagined that maybe tactical voting could save us but it has not. In the end there is simply no substitute in our current system for a single party rallying together a large bloc. This will mean alliances that we may consider unsavoury. It will also likely mean a new party. No one is going to sign up to dissolve their identities into that of one of their current historic rivals.
In the same regard, we need to all pledge to enact voting reform. Even if we are successful in building a big tent party, we shouldn't imagine that this will last forever. It has failed before and it could fail again. We will need an insurance policy against this in the future. Voting reform that delivers more proportional results will guard against sudden and violent swings between opposites.
We may be too late on this next point, but the sharp divide in opinion between Scotland and England is a real concern and if we want to preserve our union then a reform to implement real federalism in the UK will be necessary. There is a real risk that our country won't survive many more years of Westminster centralism. Even outside of government, we need to be more sensitive and appreciative of the differences between the different parts of the UK and to move away from the bet that a strong British identity can subsume all our divides. Along with voting reform, this will need to be one of our priority campaigns and shifts in our way of thinking of our union of nations.
We must redouble our efforts against racism. Prejudice against multiple different groups has become systemic across our society. Though our options are limited to deal with this issue within other groups, we can do so much more to root it out from our own camp. We cannot accept less than zero tolerance.
We need to remain inspiring. And this as a clear difference from 'radicalism'. We can deliver ideas that are ambitious and concretely help people change their lives for the better without becoming dogmatic. This may sound like a meaningless statement but the tension we need to reckon with is this: people may want transformation but they can also be sceptical. In seeking to convince people that things can change and improve, we musn't get lost in our own visions.
This election has been tough but once we are done grieving for what we have lost, we can only hope to build something better. In my own capacity, I know how hard it is to continue to believe in my personal ability to deliver change and to help build a better world. But my faith in other people, in their ability to be kind, to show solidarity, to step up in times of difficulty, to work together, is unlimited. So long as we continue to believe in one another, we will wake up to a better tomorrow.
We know what we have to do.
We are hopelessly divided and riven by factionalism. We imagined that maybe tactical voting could save us but it has not. In the end there is simply no substitute in our current system for a single party rallying together a large bloc. This will mean alliances that we may consider unsavoury. It will also likely mean a new party. No one is going to sign up to dissolve their identities into that of one of their current historic rivals.
In the same regard, we need to all pledge to enact voting reform. Even if we are successful in building a big tent party, we shouldn't imagine that this will last forever. It has failed before and it could fail again. We will need an insurance policy against this in the future. Voting reform that delivers more proportional results will guard against sudden and violent swings between opposites.
We may be too late on this next point, but the sharp divide in opinion between Scotland and England is a real concern and if we want to preserve our union then a reform to implement real federalism in the UK will be necessary. There is a real risk that our country won't survive many more years of Westminster centralism. Even outside of government, we need to be more sensitive and appreciative of the differences between the different parts of the UK and to move away from the bet that a strong British identity can subsume all our divides. Along with voting reform, this will need to be one of our priority campaigns and shifts in our way of thinking of our union of nations.
We must redouble our efforts against racism. Prejudice against multiple different groups has become systemic across our society. Though our options are limited to deal with this issue within other groups, we can do so much more to root it out from our own camp. We cannot accept less than zero tolerance.
We need to remain inspiring. And this as a clear difference from 'radicalism'. We can deliver ideas that are ambitious and concretely help people change their lives for the better without becoming dogmatic. This may sound like a meaningless statement but the tension we need to reckon with is this: people may want transformation but they can also be sceptical. In seeking to convince people that things can change and improve, we musn't get lost in our own visions.
This election has been tough but once we are done grieving for what we have lost, we can only hope to build something better. In my own capacity, I know how hard it is to continue to believe in my personal ability to deliver change and to help build a better world. But my faith in other people, in their ability to be kind, to show solidarity, to step up in times of difficulty, to work together, is unlimited. So long as we continue to believe in one another, we will wake up to a better tomorrow.
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