Saddened by race card

June 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

I pause, saddened and angered, as a "black Bermudian", and no, not married to a white man or the child of a white parent, however, a beautiful product of black parents. Not born to affluence and not afforded every opportunity, but raised with the knowledge and awareness that I was ultimately responsible for my actions and, yes, as cliché would have it, a mindset of "if you worked hard enough, combined with patience and much perseverance and in all that I do let it be done with the utmost integrity and regard for others ..."

When there is lack of a credible argument or debate, the only thing that we can rely on from our leaders, Premier and Cabinet members alike, is "it's a racial issue". I am appalled that the leader of our country would feed into the rawest emotion of a people.

Why is it racist for a people to want the leader of their country, to have their "best" interest at heart, to do his utmost, to ensure the safety; security and peace of mind of his people?

Why is it racist to expect such a leader to follow protocol and not rush hastily to a decision, ultimately having to lie about a vetting process that truly never took place?

Why is it racist to expect a leader to be competent enough to know that Bermuda as a dependent country should seek advisement from the country we are presently dependent upon?

Why is it racist to expect the leader of our country to do his due diligence, regardless of the parameters placed on him by another nation, which is not willing to make the same sacrifice?

I ask this of those who scream "racism" once again to deflect from the issue at hand. My question to the Premier is when in the history of mankind has divisiveness been a catalyst to unity?

The "honorable" Premier Ewart Brown had the amusing gall earlier in the year to attempt to relate his experience to that of President Obama's successful electorate.

Dearest Premier, I urge you to reflect on Obama's own election campaign, he never "played the race card" in a country that was founded on racism. In a country where many of his supporters feared for his life given some of the hatred presently displayed for black Americans and yet he still knew that playing the race card benefited no one, especially his own race.

However, his solution was recognising that racism has played a heavy hand, but that "blacks and whites" have so much more in common than not.

Premier Brown, please provide "your people" with real solutions. The constant cry of racism is not a real solution and has never been a solution. It is a disservice. The "Big Conversation" is not a conversation but more divisive rhetoric.

The solution is in addressing the issues of Bermuda as a collective union – the issue of education; the issue of drugs; the issue of crime; the issue of our young girls and boys being at the prey of paedophiles; the issue of our young people having a lack of hope; lack of vision. All these issues do not discriminate. I have yet to hear you speak on such matters with as much pomposity and gusto as you have with the race issue. Let's make these issues the "Big Conversation"!

Black Bermudians, wake up and stop allowing your minds to be shackled by your own people who allow us to scream racism for all that we feel is wrong. When do we stop being victims and recognize that most of our issues are not the "white man's" for all intense and purposes of realism in solving Bermuda's issues may as well be the "boogey man", but we as a society must take accountability for our hand in the social issues facing us.

Jim Crow had nothing on Ewart Brown!

A. TUCKER

Warwick

Stop using the race card

June 18, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to the PLP and their supporters who stated that the protest held in front of the Cabinet Building was racist and a "lynch mob". As a young black Bermudian, I can say that those statements are not true. Race had nothing to do with why the people of Bermuda were protesting. The reason behind this protest is the fact that the Premier went behind the citizens of Bermuda's backs and brought those refugees into the Island.

In my opinion, I feel that this is unfair because there are so many locals such as myself who are struggling to find a job, and a place to stay. Where are our jobs and homes? It seems as though the Premier is worried more about people who are not a part of this island and not even helping the people who matter most. Why is it so easy for the Premier to give citizenship to those four men but so hard to find jobs for our locals who want to work?

Another issue is respect for the people of Bermuda. Why weren't we aware of this decision to bring those four to our Island? This, to me, was disrespectful and deceitful to everyone, black and white. I thought that decisions that would affect this country had to be shared with the people of this island. If this is how Government plans to run our country, what is the point of having elections? Why tell us that we have a voice but yet we are constantly ignored and pushed aside like those who live in countries run by dictators?

My theory is that Dr. Brown didn't have any faith in the people of Bermuda, which is why he didn't include us in his decision. If that was the case, why is he the leader of a country where he doesn't trust the people? He should step down and let someone who would actually allow us to have a voice be the leader of our island.

The PLP party needs to stop using the "Race Card" and pay attention to the issue at hand and the needs of the people.

K. K. TODD

Pembroke

Issues close to home

June 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

Since our current leadership likes to draw comparisons with President Obama, I couldn't help notice the CNN headline, "Obama offers more benefits for gay workers". Where does Bermuda stand on this particular human rights issue?

While on the issue of human rights, what about the thousands of PRC holders who suffer taxation without representation since they don't have the simple right to vote (while making massive contributions to Bermuda as acknowledged by Minister Burgess in the House of Assembly last week).

Perhaps we should look at human rights issues closer to home before we start getting involved in international affairs.

KENT SMITH

St. George's