We need real leadershipMr. Editor,There aren’t words to describe Mr. Larry E. Smith’s recent letter to the editor dated the 8th of December. For someone who suggests that he lives in Florida, is it not surprising that he is abundantly willing to act as an authority on Bermuda’s present racial situation?

In his commentary, he asks “Why were blacks, above all other population groups, singled out for and successfully kept in slavery for such a protracted period of time?” As evidenced by the Wikipedia article on the topic of slavery, “Slavery can be traced to the earliest records, such as the Code of Hammurabi in Mesopotamia (~1800 BCE.)”. Not limited to just blacks, “The history of slavery in the ancient world was closely tied to warfare. Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Hebrew , Greek, Roman, Persian, Chinese, Mayan Aztec and Indian sources are replete with references to slavery in connection with warfare.”

Of particular interest to the enslavement of blacks is the Wikipedia article on the African Slave Trade which suggests “Slaves purchased from black slave dealers in West African regions ... were sold into slavery as a result of a defeat in tribal warfare. Mighty black kings in the Bight of Biafra near modern-day Senegal and Benin sold their captives locally and later to European slave traders for goods such as metal cookware, rum, livestock, and seed grain.”

Does this imply that it was black Africans fighting amongst themselves who originally condemned our ancestors to their enslaved fate? The black president of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, a descendant of generations of slave-owning African royals, said it best when he ridiculed reparations for slavery, saying “If one can claim reparations for slavery, the slaves of my ancestors or their descendants can also claim money from me”. Is it possible that you could be one of the descendants of the slaves of his ancestors that he does not wish to repay?

Mr Smith asks, “Was there something that was uniquely different about black people that caused nearly the entire world to support and profit from our enslavement?” While the entire world did not involve itself in Black enslavement, this question is also answered by the African Slave Trade article under the section entitled “Why African Slaves?” “In the late 15th century, Europeans ... attempted to enslave some of the Native Americans to perform hard physical labour, but found them unaccustomed to hard agrarian labour.” “Their lack of resistance to common European diseases was another factor against their suitability for slavery.” “The African slaves proved more resistant to European diseases than indigenous Americans, familiar with a tropical climate and accustomed to agricultural work.”

Blacks were chosen as slaves because they were a strong powerful race, as evidenced by modern Black dominance of many professional sports, that could survive the tough conditions of the Americas, not because they were weak and inferior. If Blacks of the past had not fought against one another in the beginning, they may never have sold one another out and we wouldn’t be in this mess. Today, we still witness an age old battle of Black on Black sellouts. If you’re not a member of the PLP, you’re a “House Nigger”, an ‘Uncle Tom”, or a “Sambo”. Thousands of years and nothing has been learned.

Dr. Brown is using an age old strategy of divide and conquer. By pitting Blacks against one another, he might well end up like those mighty black kings. He works hard to paint Dr. Grant Gibbons as representative of “the establishment”, the one he fought hard against in the 1960s where he solidified his political views. Yet, the establishment of yesteryears is very different from the one that rules today. Today we live in an age where “the establishment” is the PLP government. Where Dr. Brown has gone from fighting “the man” to becoming it himself.

Dr. Brown could be using his new found endowment to get right to work to bring great change. Instead, he is selfish and takes the opportunity to gloat against an adversary that is no longer there. How can an individual be a “de facto leader” when he sits on the backbench? How can Dr. Gibbons represent “the establishment” when the PLP, today’s “establishment”, have reigned over Bermuda for the last 8 years? Was Dr. Brown not also a pivotal figure throughout those 8 years? Did he not have a hand in what occurred or, more critically, what didn’t?

To answer Mr. Smith’s question, “What are those conservative black UBP members conserving when black Bermudians are faced with poverty, crime, unemployment, homelessness and other social pathologies?” Could it be that they hope to conserve some kind of honesty and decency in our government? One where all Bermudians are equal and we have a true government more interested in doing what benefits the people rather than themselves. Ask yourself this: How quick has the PLP been willing to help themselves to fancy cars, expensive travel budgets, pay raises and a lot of other things they won’t even report on? Ask yourself another question. When was the last time they did something that actually helped YOU?

“One man with courage” doesn’t “make a majority”, it makes a dictatorship. Our people, all Bermudians of all colours, need to have the courage to stand up and demand real leadership, not those who are more interested in winning Oscars and settling old scores than doing what will make a real difference to us tomorrow.

We need leaders willing to stand up and unite Bermudians behind what is best for all Bermudians, not just one group over another. As long as you’re willing to settle for the excuse “the UBP did it too” as the answer to everything, we’re guaranteed to forever face poverty, crime, unemployment, homelessness and other social pathologies. Our issues of today should take the foremost of importance. We’ve got a black government, “the establishment” of yesterday is gone; we need leaders who will focus 100% of their energy on making Bermuda better for ALL Bermudians. We shouldn’t stand for anything less.

DENIS PITCHER

DevonshireIs retribution productive? December 3, 2006Dear Sir,I have struggled for a few years now to understand why race relations are deteriorating. After all there are so many opportunities that this great Island and its people have been blessed with. The answer to my inquiry has come to me in the aftermath of the Premier’s racial outburst in the House of Assembly on December 1.

There are two fundamental differences in perspective at play here. On the one hand there are moderates that believe racial harmony has evolved and that blacks have greatly improved their lot and continue to do so. On the other hand there are those that believe whites need to be subjected to a taste of bigotry before racial harmony can be made possible. Both positions are understandable in the context of history, but the problem with the latter is that it is destructive and can only lead to an empty “victory” for its combatants and our community. I urge all those that believe retribution is the answer to ask themselves if that tactic is not contrary to the premise of the entire debate.

ROBIN HAMILL

Hamilton ParishHandcuffs of hate December 6, 2006Dear Sir,When one listens to the clip of the “debate” in the House of Assembly kindly provided on-line by this newspaper of the “clash” between Dr. Ewart Brown and Dr. Grant Gibbons, it merely confirms what many have said in this community about Dr. Brown — that he has an agenda and that agenda is clearly to divide and conquer. The following quotes attributed to Dr. Brown indicate his propensity to use race whenever it suits.

“My Speaker, I would never call that member (Dr. Gibbons) a racist dog, because I can tell that he is not a dog” (1st December 2006 in the House of Assembly).

“Let’s confront the issue and not each other. I’m native enough to believe that will lead us to a better place. Race pervades everything we do. This place is too small for us to have that kind of existence (reported on 28 November 2006 following Dr. Brown’s question and answer period with Bermuda students in London).

Dr. Brown pledged to tackle the issue which he said was not going to go away unless Bermuda found a healthy way to confront the “disconcerting deeds of the past” and move forward (21 October 2006).

“I do not believe that name calling is a good thing. I do not believe name calling has a productive place in our business” (reported on 24 June 2006 when the question of race and insults was brought to the floor of the House of Assembly during the motion to adjourn when Dr. Brown spoke about the “house nigger” comment made by his Ministerial colleague Senator David Burch).

“I mean no disrespect to the media when I ignore them, but I just don’t have the time to answer each and every question that they raise. I had a meeting today with one member of the media and told him some of the questions seemed to be unreasonable and unfair and that in future I would be declining to answer certain question on the grounds that they are plantation question. That’s the most polite thing I can say” (reported on 22 February 2006 — statement made whilst giving an update at a public meeting at Warwick Workmen’s Club on his portfolio at a community meeting in reference to questions about Club Med.)

“Voting for the UBP would be the equivalent of voting yourself back onto the plantation” (2003 election — Dr. Brown later admitted to making the statement for political gain (as reported on 4 July 2005).

“Suppose I had met two white males in business suits instead — would the presumption have been the same?” (21 June 2002) in response to a memo regarding alleged rudeness by Dr. Brown when challenged by the police on his business as the airport).

Mr. Editor, it is very easy for Dr. Brown to hide behind race when asked uncomfortable question regarding government policy and even easier to blame the press when things do not go your way. It is clear Dr. Brown’s best from of defence is attack (or mislead, not deceive), no doubt in the hope that his detractors will simply slip away for fear of being called a racist. If Dr. Brown truly believes in confronting the issue and not each other he should practise what he preaches and drop the racially divisive language so often employed. If his behaviour in the House of Assembly is meant to encourage sensible and fruitful discussion then there is no hope. I urge Dr. Brown and to think about the following quote attributed to a US Pastor.

“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hate. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”

MICHAEL M. FAHY

Smiths‘They IS Bermudian’ December 10, 2006Dear Sir,An Englishman, a Frenchman and a Bermudian are viewing a painting of Adam and Eve frolicking in the Garden of Eden.

“Look at their reserve, their calm,” muses the Brit. “They must be British.”

“Nonsense,” the Frenchman disagrees. “They’re naked, and so beautiful. Clearly, they are French.”

The Bermudian responds, “These byes, they got no clothes, no shelter, no BMW, no airplanes, no gold chains, no chicken an’, an’ they only got a Loquat to eat, and they’re being told this is paradise. They IS Bermudian.”

> HUGH BLACKWOOD