Lest anyone think that I am pro-Brexit, I am not! It is a bad idea, and will cause more harm to the British economy than the ignorant voters were able to understand.

However, if it's gonna happen anyway, I hope it helps ME.

In Poland, they believe that Brexit was aimed that THEM. Here is the narrative as they see it.

Polish people provided major assistance during WWII in the fight against the Nazis -- specifically in the Battle of Britain (Polish Air Force) and in a battle in Monte Cassino, Italy (Polish Ground Troops).. These are key lessons every Polish student learns - even after their country was partitioned into nothingness, their people still fought the good fight.

After Poland threw off communism in the 1980s, many Poles started migrating into Western Europe, looking for better paying jobs. Lots found their way to GB -- entire communities of Poles living together in GB, eating kielbasa and doing the shit jobs. (Think of it like the Mexicans in the US, only with tortillas.) The Poles assumed that their participation in the Battle of Britain gave them some sort of "Welcome In" status -- but GB has a short memory.

GB malcontents started grumbling that ‘those immigrants are taking our jobs’ (jobs no Brit wanted, just like lawn service or roofing in the US) and the hubbub grew louder. The deafening roar coincided with the European refugee crisis of 2013-2015, which was when record numbers of Africans and Muslims arrived in the EU, many escaping horrific governments or famines back home.

So, the Brits jumped on the global “Immigration hysteria” band wagon of 2016, and said "we can leave the EU, get out from under their immigration rules, under the guise of not wanting the brown people, when really we just don't want these Poles".

And voila! Brexit!!

This is the narrative I've been told by adult students and Polish teacher colleagues. I don't know if it's true, but it's a widely held belief here.