Eliminate the disparity

August 8, 2010

Dear Sir,

Bermuda's black community is a very conservative one. We usually choose those who are materially successful and whose black lives have as close to the "white" experience as is possible.

Hence both of the current candidates for PLP leadership have called for us to "move forward together". Both of them, thanks to hardworking parents, have lived privileged lives. Both of them have what someone has called" "a white man's income".

Both of them are well integrated racially, that is they are coequal with the Whites with whom they interact. Both of them, as a result of their life's experience and their university education speak the Queen's English as do the whites with whom they associate. Hence, for them, they can easily "push aside" their differences which is skin colour alone.

Unfortunately that is not true for a large percentage of Blacks who vote for them, and those whom they will represent. Many Blacks are still struggling financially and certainly do not have "a white man's income".

Their interaction with the white world is likely to be as employee or as a subordinate in some other role. Their parents have not been able to give them "privileged lives" and have, quite possibly, often told them horror stories of their experience of racial injustice. Many black Bermudians still live very segregated lives, that has ensured that they have been excluded from the privileged and cultural experiences that money buys and most of them speak a "modified" form of the Queen's English.

For them the differences go far beyond skin colour. Without as deliberate an effort to change their circumstances as was the policy of segregation and exclusion which was imposed on them to ensure their subordinate and inferior role, there is no possible way that they will ever be able to "move forward together" with those in the white community. The current economic disparity and the social, cultural and psychological gap between the two communities makes any form of genuine "togetherness" fairly impossible. Relatively few, numerically speaking, are likely to be involved in the actual choice of the leader but everyone can consider the way in which we are governed and express their views when their M. P. s come calling. Our economic disparity must be addressed in as direct a fashion as it has been over the decades to ensure that there should be a disparity, but now the purpose must be to eliminate that disparity.

EVA N. HODGSON

Crawl

Producing a society of louts

August 8, 2010

Dear Sir,

As the United States and Canada continues to legislate Judeo-Christian values out of existence under the pretence of tolerance and diversity, their citizens are rapidly losing the right to recognise and discriminate between what is right and wrong. When discernment is deemed the enemy of tolerance by judicial fiat, morality is no longer allowed to constitute real knowledge. Rather, it is declared an expression of mere sentiment, of individual tastes and preferences. No longer may we affirm higher standards of truth; only different standards of relative truth are permitted. "True for you, but not for me" is the rallying cry of a so-called tolerant society and universal banner to which all other truths must bend the knee.

Sadly, an individualistic approach to morality has consequences not limited to the individual. The liberal censure of truth has usurped common decency, raised up the lowest common denominator and uses the judiciary to legitimise its tyrannous sovereignty.

Any affirmation of non-relative value can be labelled 'elitist', 'hateful', contrary to someone's human rights and clamouring crusades are launched for legislative measures to eradicate the offending standard. Applying relativistic moral thinking to human rights considerations will inevitably produce a society of louts, ironically infused with a sense of social justice. Let us not here in Bermuda create a similarly bleak moral landscape where too "the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity". (Yeats)

STEPHEN NOTMAN

Paget

A card of thanks

August 9, 2010

Dear Sir,

Teen Littles and Bigs of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda recently had the opportunity to ferry to Dockyard, on a Sunday morning, to tour and dine aboard the Norwegian Spirit.

We especially would like to acknowledge and thank the following individuals for their kind support for this endeavour: Mrs. Cherie Whitter, Permanent Secretary, Tourism and Transport; Mr. Laurence Jacobs, Transportation Consultant; Captain John Moore, Sr. V.P. Marine Operations, Myer Shipping; Mr. David Simmons, Marine & Ports; and Mr. Colin Murphy, V.P. Land & Services, Norwegian Cruise Line (Florida).

As the cruise ship industry is a prominent part of Bermuda's economy, we wanted to expose our teens and expand their knowledge about an aspect of Bermuda's Tourism Industry. The teens had an exceptional hands-on experience, ranging from being able to view the public/entertainment areas, to asking questions about the ship and potential career opportunities. The smiles on their faces throughout the tour proved this intimate experience was a successful event.

At the end of the tour, a surprise three-course luncheon in the formal dining room was the grand finale to an afternoon of being treated as VIPs. This first ever landmark event proved an exciting venture for NCL, and they have acknowledged this by extending an invitation to our BBBS teens for a return visit next year. Once again, thank you to our local partners, who each played a role in making the Norwegian Spirit Tour a memorable experience for us all.

ESME WILLIAMS

Executive Director

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Bermuda