Gratuitous violence and the country’s apparent indifference to it have struck again. That the most recent act of pure cowardice took place on Court Street is neither here nor there. That it happened at all, in the heat of the day, in the middle of a street of business, with traffic pausing only to allow the cowardly attack to shift left or right of centre before going about its business, is the most damning indictment of all of where we are as a people.

Ninety seconds of video that has now gone viral among certain segments of the community reveal the absolute worst in us and exposes a genuine failure or unwillingness to prioritise making Bermuda safe from the antisocial and “gang” elements that have taken root in Bermuda for the past two decades and which are now producing the most odious flower when in full bloom.

This is not a flower to put on a Bermuda postage stamp and sent to the corners of the Earth, showcasing our wonderful island, but one that spews hatred, apathy and a chronic absence of human feeling.

It is typical of the changing world in which we live, but because we are so small in landmass, we are in position to isolate the problem and act on it to effect change.

Yet no manner of reports or sociological profiles has served as a cure; assiduously worked on, the likes of the Mincy Report then become consigned as ornaments for corner offices or fodder to catch dust.

Meanwhile, at-risk teen after at-risk teen gets drawn into a vicious cycle of criminality that hounds them throughout adolescence, aided and abetted by the uncaring, fully grown adult — whether that be a parent or well-meaning individual who has knocked their head against a wall before ultimately giving up, giving in to the thugs of society.

For that is what they are, no matter the age. We absolutely cannot allow them to win. We just cannot.

This heinous scene took place no more than two blocks away from the Hamilton Police Station. Imagine the gall: to think that this is your sovereign land and that there is nothing the police can do.

We need to retake our streets — and that means Court Street, too.

For all the work that has been done in recent times to make North Hamilton relevant as a going concern, scenes such as what are depicted here push sentiment back to the dark old days when children were warned off walking through the area on the way to school for fear of being accosted by street dwellers or of being exposed to drug paraphernalia left behind in the discontinued playground/parking lot from a long night of self-harm.

The police beat needs to be a thing of permanence; not on Court Street West but where it is most needed in the two-block zone enveloped by Court Street East, Dundonald Street, Princess Street and Angle Street.

Loiterers and unruly gatherers need to be moved along — not for a day or two, but constantly. Small business owners on that stretch need all the help they can get in the face of the negative publicity that the acts of a few will undoubtedly bring.

There is a tremendous deal of sympathy for the company John Barritt and Son, and in particular its young male employee who was attacked. His ordeal could have been far worse were it not for the intervention of the one citizen in the vicinity who saw a wrong being committed and who acted in a selfless manner to put an end to the madness.

The rest, including a van, three private cars, and a bike carrying a passenger — all of which drove through amid the commotion as if they were negotiating traffic lights, ie “nothing to see here” — seemingly could not care less for the welfare of someone’s son, brother or father.

It is a microcosm of what ails us: people seeing or knowing of things but failing to come forward to the authorities for fear of retribution.

From whom? From the likes of the coward in the attendant photographs and in the video, who waited until the unsuspecting Barritt’s employee had walked nearly past him before sucker-punching him with what appeared to be a knuckle-duster or worse and eliminating any real chance the poor soul might have had to defend himself?

Or from the videographer whose gleefully rabid commentary not only betrays the character of the many young people in this country who aim to do well despite often disadvantaged settings but also reveals a mentality that is — dare we say it — subhuman.

The employee deserves whatever monthly commendation can be found in that organisation. Apart from doing nothing to bring himself or his company into disrepute, despite the gravest of provocation, he clung on for dear life to his trolley before being separated and never at any time let go of the order sheet — seeing the job through.

The police, who have made an arrest and have identified a second such video doing the rounds, have said that the public should not circulate the recording, as this might have a negative impact on successful prosecution, but — aside from the video itself being the greatest aid in a prospective prosecutor’s armoury — we are of the opinion that the crude and obscene nature of this/our behaviour needs to be placed front and centre on every doorstep, and in every living room. For only then may we get utterly serious about cleaning up our acts and cleaning up our streets.

Yes, it is more than a bit of airing our dirty laundry. And it is of little significance that the America’s Cup is right around the corner. But not only do we need this dirty laundry aired, we need it laundered.

The end of the video presents the mother of all ironies: not the galling sight of two triumphal cowards, but the inscription on the back of the Barritt’s delivery truck, which reads “Stop the violence. End the silence ...”

If only.