The Fight for Globalization is On

The overwhelming sense of 'bregret' and struggle - however futile - to somehow reverse the recent Brexit referendum outcome signals a fighting spirit that's sorely needed right now. Whatever the outcome I do see signs that confirm my belief that most people in the UK are sensible, progressive and inclusive.

It's hard to say that I have that 'most' part right, especially when one hears about racial tensions the outcome has stirred up. I'm someone who thinks those tendencies were there all along but with media oxygen seem far more rampant.

My personal experience over twelve years living, working, fighting, loving, biking, eating, drinking and parenting in London was an inclusive one. I was a foreigner; an American of - as was said - 'Italian derivation'. While I reveled in the odd complement that my Connecticut accent was somehow exotic that truly was the extent of being different. I was otherwise treated like everyone else.

When you live outside of your home country it is difficult to resist the urge to gravitate towards the familiar. For an American this begins with some form of fast food or a 'Friends' TV binge. Thankfully I got over the notion of creating a US in the UK pretty quickly. This was made far easier by having two colleagues who became friends. Each shared aspects of the English culture that would have otherwise been unavailable to me.

My friend Giles personifies the cultured English gentleman. He's as natural at a white tie and tails city gala as on a countryside ramble, hoisting his 6'3" frame over a property fence. Through his military service and livery membership he offered me a front row seat to the pageantry of British culture. 

My buddy Liton has one of those voices, wow...talk about exotic! But rather than apprenticing for

 'Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs' he's far more comfortable in a kitchen - any kitchen - preparing a home cooked meal for you and 100 of his best friends. He alone can be credited with showing me London's east end...it's cultural history, its tastes and smells. It is the the part of London I miss most.

So when I wasn't at Glyndebourne learning what a 'ha-ha' was or in the vicinity of Brick Lane tempting fate with an authentic Bangladeshi menu I was working. Most of that experience was spent running a small consultancy, which at various times employed Britons, Poles, South Africans and...well..Americans. Gloriously diverse colleagues who defined the London I know and cherish but impossible without globalization.

Recent headlines have left me feeling pretty fortunate for having had an inclusive 'UK as EU Member' experience. At the same time I am sorry for the 30 year old out there somewhere who is itching to swap their familiar surroundings for something unknown.

My life has been better by knowing Giles, Liton and so many other special people from that time. I'd like to think they feel the same and that is the point and reason we must fight for inclusive multicultural societies. Progressive Britons know this.

Although it seems that they alone (suddenly) find themselves on the front line of this very important fight we know that is not true. A win for them is a win for us all...get in the fight.