December 30, 2011Dear Sir,I am abashed to say that I did not know how to respond to comments on your internet. So I am responding in a way that I do know. I would like to comment primarily for those of my supporters who may be puzzled because they have never actually heard my point of view. I am not so concerned about my critics because they will always fill that role.1. I do know about Colonialism and some of its brutalities. There have been different forms of Colonial rule and because we had a white population we had indirect rule, which was less oppressive. Nevertheless we all know about the challenge of the Former Premier Brown to colonial restrictions. However, not too many will know that long before Dr Brown the white Oligarchy was even more rebellious because of the potential for British interference. They were so angry that they threatened unilateral independence.2. My perspective has always been very different from that of those who rule us. After all it was a white Bermudian Government that was bent on destroying me and my people through racism. The reality is Britain may not have fought our battles for us as I might have wished, but it has played a moderating influence in the face of the worst expressions of racism by a white Bermudian oligarchy. It was our “national hero”(?) Dr EF Gordon who appealed to Great Britain against some of the worst aspects of Bermuda’s white racism. One of the more striking examples is when Britain prevented the Bermudian white hierarchy from castrating those slaves whom they decided were “impudent”.3 Intellectually, I understand those who want Independence. I also know that there are those who see colonialism and racism as so intertwined that they will not make a distinction. I do make a distinction. Great Britain across the Atlantic has never done to me what white Bermudians have done. It is flippant of me to say that the English were very hospitable to me when I was there. It is flippant because I know the difference between the personal and policy! But many Bermudians think in these terms and the English were very good to me personally - which is more than I have been able to say most of my life about the white Bermudians who live next to me.4 The reality is that there have been times when, like all of those white folks who dashed up to Government House who wanted protection from Dr Brown (I have actually forgotten the issue!) I have been thankful at times that Britain has been there as protection for me from the white Bermudian oligarchy even if she has not always offered that protection.5 For those who seemed to think so, I did not note that these Honours had international significance either as an excuse or as a justification for accepting the OBE because I do not feel the need for either an excuse or a justification, even when Dame Lois was preventing the PLP from accepting them I disagreed strongly with that position. So on that score I have not been, nor am, inconsistent. I mentioned it because it happens to be true, even in those countries which have become independent. Even in that most rebellious of colonies, the USA, they too seem to believe that accepting Honours from the Queen takes nothing from their Independence even if they draw some lines.6. Thanks for this opportunity to state my views on something as important as our relationship with Great Britain and how we govern ourselves locally. For those whose experience leads them to equate racism and colonialism I will not challenge their experience. For those who have given it little thought and simply made unwarranted assumptions, I would urge them to give thought to the issue. With or without Independence it is important how we govern ourselves and how we permit others to govern us. With or without colonialism the long term impact of racism is still the issue that is destroying our society and poisoning every conversation.Yours etcEVA N HODGSONHamilton ParishPs I realise that the blogs and print probably speak to a different audience. So I will have to learn how to manage the other!