Forward Thirty (A Diary)

 
Forward Thirty is an imaginary scenario of the future EU. It is not aimed at any group religious or otherwise. It's simply a dream of a possibility.

Today is the thirtieth anniversary of the UK leaving us. Oh woeful day! My grandfather still weeps at the memory. Of course I wasn't born then so I've never known anything different. Grandfather said we used to be Christians but since the Muslims took over the EU parliament it’s best to be Muslim. Oh I know we’re not forced to be yet but if I want a job I have to wear the hijab and use my Muslim name of Rihana even though I was born Christiana.

My parents keep telling Grandpa to keep his opinions to himself for his own good. He’s an outspoken man who was born into a different world and rails against what’s happening to us.

Grandfather says the UK is now the only decent place to live in Europe but of course they don’t just take anyone these days. They have a strict point’s based system for which, sadly, we do not qualify.

My eighteenth birthday yesterday was also my second wedding anniversary and Abdullah and I celebrated with a quiet meal at home. We can’t afford expensive meals in restaurants now that little Mohammed is one and growing out of clothes by the week. I'm pregnant again so money will get even tighter soon.

Abdullah is a decent, hard working husband but, as a convert, he only has access to menial jobs. He has erased his degree in Modern art from his CV as it is deemed ‘undesirable.’ Anyway with the closing of the art galleries and museums (ostensibly on economic grounds) there is no call for his degree any more. Still, we were lucky to get this caretaker’s position as it comes with our flat. We are more fortunate than a lot of folk.

Abdullah is very careful always to proclaim his faith and to show it by his actions. He never misses Friday prayers even when he’s ill. I'm finding Ramadan hard to cope with during pregnancy but I’ll manage somehow. OK I'm legally excused because I'm pregnant but the majority of pregnant women who were born Muslim observe it and look down on women who don’t. I would hate to be denounced to the Mullahs as non-practising as that could mean the end of Abdullah’s job. We would then be forced to live with grandfather in his tiny house.

I worry about the great influx of people from and through Turkey now she is a full member of the EU. A lot of those people are over-zealous and are screaming for full Sharia law to be brought in. Already we have seen an increase in violence on the streets as the hotheads protest for change to their way. In Germany, according to the BBC, there are full scale riots between the right wing and the radical Muslim groups. Bloodshed has increased and now the use of firearms has been reported, too. Our Belgian media either make no reports or condemns anything that gets through as propaganda. I wish we still had access to the Internet but it was banned as un-Islamic.

War with Russia is a terrifying prospect but also a real one I believe. Boniakov their president is cracking down on Islamic protesters in his country even harder. We’ve read he’s banned the wearing of Islamic apparel and the destruction of Mosques by the godless mob is a daily occurrence. Grandfather says it’s lies put about by extremists out to cause trouble. I don’t know the truth but I'm scared for the future. Russia is a very powerful country.

News from the BBC, always decried as lies and propaganda, is that Britain continues to prosper. People freely choose their own religion and there are plenty of well paid jobs. It is said they have a huge trading surplus from dealing with the whole world tariff free. I know they have sent aid to the smaller struggling EU countries because my Danish cousin said recently that rice and grain was coming in sacks marked 'Aid' with the Union flag. The crippling inflation, grandfather says, is caused by countries that are unable to repay loans plus joblessness and corruption in high places. The Government says it is because of greedy international speculators forcing the Euro down.

Since Greece and Spain collapsed and were thrown out of the EU the armed insurrection in those countries makes it seem the whole world has gone crazy. Anti-Islamic feeling in those places grows stronger with innocent people reportedly being beaten and even murdered in the streets. Turkey has threatened to invade to protect Muslims but so far it’s been threats only thanks be to Allah.

America and Britain seem reluctant to become involved in any way at all. They make pious noises about peace but do little else. Since the late Donald Trump was American president (Thank god he was assassinated says Grandpa) and almost caused a nuclear world war three their peoples seem keen to mind their own business and focus on domestic matters. Time to hide my diary now Abdullah’s due home.

Copyright  © J A Milligan 2016