THE SUN SETS ON THE BRITISH EMPIRE

England leaves the European Union today.  In the long and glorious history of the British, England, and their empire, today is not their finest hour. England leaves a union of European countries that established open trade between the countries, simplified travel and  importation of goods, and the easing of restrictions when a citizen of one country wanted to work in another country. The EU was and is in all respects a recognition that we all inhabit one small planet, breathe the same air, and have the same goals for our families and children. 

There was and is no good reason for England to leave the EU. The rise of xenophobic fears of foreigners, frustration among the poorly educated lower class of stagnant wages, and the feeding of those ignorant and mostly wrong fears by unscrupulous politicians have all led to this highly regrettable moment. 

English industries, trucking, farming, transportation and banking will all suffer. And those who are struggling most will struggle even more. Prices will rise and wages will fall and jobs will become scarcer. 

England has endured tougher times, but none of them of her own making. And most troubling is this- the British Empire will collapse. Scotland will withdraw from the Empire. They have the votes and the reasons to do so. Ireland will soon follow, and then the British will again find themselves alone on their small island. 

We have faith in the British people. They stood alone in the last century's darkest hour. A beacon of courage, democracy and literacy when the dark cloud of German national socialism fell upon the continent. The world owes the British for what they endured and the United States owes them the most, since we sat on the sidelines while Europe fell. 

Perhaps we can cash that chit. Perhaps when this dark cloud of ignorant nationalism lifts,  the great British Lion will open his eyes, shake his great mane, and wonder what he has done. When this occurs it is our fervent hope that their neighbors welcome them back into the EU. 

They have earned the right to make a mistake.