Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

i Editor's Letter: What has happened to us?

 

Stefano Hatfield
Thursday 24 May 2012 00:06 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

We have been inundated with people wanting to come to our next i readers' party at Covent Garden's London Transport Museum on 13 June. I recognise a few names that have been to a previous event, which is nice, but we will give preference to those we've not met before. Just email us on i@independent.co.uk with "party" in the subject line, and two tickets may be yours.

What will we discuss? Maybe the extraordinary and depressing pair of tables printed on page 2. Conducted by the highly reputable YouGov, the "Best and Worst Things About Britain today" could lead one to despair for the xenophobic, isolationist, backward-looking GB they reveal.

To me, the indisputable best thing about Britain is the hard-fought and exhilarating degree of personal liberty and freedom of expression we enjoy ... with our fine culture of tolerance not far behind. How sad that "liberty" is just ahead of "being an island" and actually behind "the Monarchy".

Even more depressing are the so-called "worst things" about Britain. I need not be the son of an immigrant to lament that so many can believe the number of immigrants is the single worst thing about Britain today. And the second worst thing is "benefits culture/welfare scroungers". These and being part of the EU are much higher than inequality/ poverty or racism/intolerance.

Come on people, what has happened to us? It is our fair-minded compassion, tolerance, and community spirit that made this a society to be so cherished. Don't let the bigots, who thrive in times of hardship, persuade us to deny our true selves.

twitter.com/stefanohat

Follow @stefanohat

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in