people on a 21-square mile island with a population of 60,000 understand each other.

This phenomenon -- the sheer ignorance we have of one another's deepest-felt passions and feelings -- seems to emerge every few years over different issues.

The latest eruption has come over long-term residents. The depth of feeling on the part of black Bermudians in particular toward expatriates should not come as a surprise, but it still has the capacity to shock.

Some of the comments reported from the meetings come across as xenophobic.

Others are plain ignorant. It is depressing that the latter remarks often come people who should know better.

That's not to say that the long-term residents, or non-Bermudians generally, are all angels. They are not. They are human like the rest of us.

Anglican Bishop Ewan Ratteray made a timely call this weekend for a more reasonable and less emotional debate which also recognises that any debate concerning nationality, work permits and long-term residents is also bound to stir up deep emotions for all.

Bishop Ratteray also makes the point that some of the comments which have been racial in tone should not be viewed with alarm: "It has been our failure to openly and honestly discuss such matters as racism, and our failure to deal with its consequences that has, in part, brought us to the current situation.'' He is right.

But he also makes the point that Bermuda will always need the input of foreigners and that "no-one, local or non-local, should ever be made to feel unwanted, undervalued or unwelcome in any area of our society''.

To have a rational and reasonable discussion on this issue means that the whole community must have the facts about long-term residents before it.

And long-term residents have to understand that granting additional rights will cause distress to born Bermudians -- especially black born Bermudians -- who fear they will lose their birthright.

To get from here to there means exploding myths. One is that those seeking security in Bermuda are rich, white executives whose ties to Bermuda come down to "a good job, nice weather and a good golf course''.

There may well be some long-term residents whose needs can be described in that way and the belated survey of long-term residents should clear this question up -- as should the Census.

But the fact is that the wealthy and successful are the people who least require permanent residents certificates. They can afford to leave and find good jobs and security elsewhere.

It is the working poor non-Bermudians who have put the best years of their lives into this Island and raised children -- some of whom can claim status -- who most need protection because they are the people who will be jettisoned first if they do not have some form of protection.

And it is then that Bermuda will see families divided and split up. The Island needs to get to the point where it can, as a whole, recognise the immorality of such a move.

More voices of reason like Bishop Ratteray's are needed.