YP Letters: From war to peace, the real legacy of the EU

I AM from Germany and have been living in England for the last eight years. I have come to love the people, the food (yes, the food) and the country and I have married a woman from Yorkshire and settled in Leeds.

This would have been close to unthinkable for my ancestors. One hundred years, ago my great-grandfather fought in World War One and not long after my grandfather fought in World War Two. German soldiers took many English lives and vice versa. Only a century later I am working as a doctor in the NHS, trying to improve English lives rather than take them.

Within three generations we have come from fighting the two most destructive wars in human history against one another to people from both countries being able to live freely in either. Our rivalry should be confined to the football fields and rest in Flanders Fields.

Our previous monarchs were cousins, but our similarities are much deeper running and extend to our ideas, ethics and way of life. In a world full of hate, cruelty and doubt, it is important that those who stand for a better future stand together. To me, that is the story of the European Union and why I hope the UK votes to remain.

From: John Robinson, The Headlands, Keswick.

MANY people throughout the world living in extreme poverty in overcrowded, insanitary conditions now have access to television and the internet. They are able to witness life in the West – in their eyes a “land of milk and honey”. They have no hope of achieving a similar lifestyle in the country of their birth and their only feasible solution is to emigrate.

Areas of extreme poverty are breeding grounds for racial hatred and terrorism. Economic migration is a global problem which will not go away. All the world’s power blocs need to come together to address this issue.

Europe, with Britain at its centre, should play her part.

From: Eric Innes, College Road, Copmanthorpe, York.

TEN days ago, I was admitted to York Hospital for an emergency heart operation. I was cared 
for by a wonderful dedicated team including two Spanish, 
one Italian and one Filipino nurse, and am now recovering quickly for which I am very grateful.

I am therefore particularly appalled by the squalid anti-immigrant rhetoric we see and hear daily from the Brexit campaign which trades on the fears of many in an uncertain and precarious world. However, I want to remind everyone of the real and tangible benefits we gain from immigrants who make the courageous move to come and work in our NHS, leaving family and friends to do so. How many of us would do the same?

Those who are minded to ‘out’ should reflect very carefully on what they think the consequences will be, and whether they can really trust Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Nigel Farage, who have a clear record of favouring the privatisation of the NHS, despite their current disingenuous denials.

From: Martin Schweiger, Leeds.

AS a child, I would easily get upset and literally throw my rattle from the pram. I am now a few years older but not necessarily any wiser, however I have found that walking away from a problem does not solve it.

From: David Lloyd-Williams, Langton Road, Norton.

GOING back is never they right way forward! We are in Europe and must remain there and work from inside to renew, repair and re-energise.

History shows us that, and today we must vote for the future and continued growth and compatibility with our European colleagues. Going back will be isolation.

From: Jerry Randall, Tong Road, Leeds.

THE EU is by no means perfect, but its philosophies are. Yet I don’t feel the debate has come close to succinctly communicating them. The EU is not about potholes and legal technicalities; it’s about huge soaring ideas.

From: Nigel Bywater, Leeds.

MANUFACTURING is already in recession, but things could get worse if we vote Leave. Vote Remain, but campaign for better democracy.

It is a shame that we live in a more divided country. Let us hope that after this referendum councillors and politicians can be more honest, and not scapegoat the EU, get on with their job in a positive way and fix our problems.

From: Gerald Hodgson, Spennithorne, Leyburn.

IF the nation votes for Brexit, I envisage a rush of immigrants seeking to get in before the gates close, the opposite of the aims of the Brexiteers.

From: Jack Coley, Leadwell Lane, Robin Hood, Wakefield.

HAVING watched David Cameron’s EU referendum appeal to the nation and his call to evoke the “wartime spirit” of Winston Churchill, it was interesting to note how he so conveniently omitted to add the Great Man’s thoughts on a European Union. I quote: “We 
are with Europe, but not of it. 
We are linked, but not combined. We are associated, but not absorbed. And should any European statesman address 
us and say ‘Shall we speak for thee?’ we should reply ‘Nay sir, for we dwell amongst our own people’.”