of the land and the water. Inside the framework of that beauty we have created a tourist resort. The resort and the beauty will not work for Bermudians without each other. We must learn to protect and nurture both.

Bermuda was once attractive to visitors as quiet, elegant and rather quaintly English. Today too many visitors have changed their view. Bermuda fits some visitors like a comfortable shoe but many find what Bermuda offers to be old-fashioned, tired, stodgy and rather boring. We are the same resort we were in 1950 trying to attract a type of client who hardly exists. This is not to suggest that we should instantly try to make Bermuda swing. We have said it before, but we think of Bermuda as a Grannie who has to learn to lift her skirts and dance a little.

Vacationers are moving away from sun, sea and sand. We have to face the fact that there is too little for today's visitor to do in Bermuda, especially at night, and what we have is often pricey and poorly promoted. We tend to promote entertainment for locals while assuming that the hotels take care of visitors and that is not always true. We should also work to make it easier for visitors to get to the entertainment we do provide.

It seems fair to say that the entertainment we offer visitors is often exactly what they can get at home. We think that many of the visitors who come to Bermuda are looking for what they consider an "island experience''. That involves what they think of as "island entertainment''. While Bermudians are bored with Yellow Bird the visitors are not.

This is a conservation minded world and many people are much more aware of protecting the environment than Bermudians. The beauty Bermuda offers is unique and vital to the future of tourism. Every time we take away some of the character that makes Bermuda unique, we decrease Bermuda's attractiveness to visitors. Every intrusive sign, every US style chain business, every ruined view, every bit of graffiti, every piece of litter, every ugly building makes a difference. Visitors look to Bermuda to be different, unique ... and beautiful.

Bermuda is not as beautiful as it used to be and we are getting less and less careful about what we do to beautiful Bermuda. Houses on the narrow foreshore are an abomination. There is a growing attitude that if something makes a dollar then it is alright, no matter how much damage it does. Take the cash now and let our children fight for themselves. Those who are trying to keep McDonalds are a good example of people who are selfishly careless about damaging Bermuda's future.

The more Bermuda becomes just another suburb of an American city, the less we have to offer visitors. Why would a person on holiday take an over-priced plane trip to an expensive hotel in another suburb of their home city? Right now they take that trip to Bermuda largely because of Bermuda's own beauty.

Even those people who complain about their vacation never fail to say, "Bermuda is beautiful .. . but.''