this week opposing the hiring of a British Police Commissioner as well as calling for Black Power and revolution, provoked varied reaction from teens who shared their thoughts with The Royal Gazette last week.

In a tour of Hamilton that included Church Street and the Hamilton Bus Terminal, five high school students expressed divergent opinions about the event.

Ms Cherie Richardson, 18, a first year Arts and Science student at the Bermuda College, said she was glad it was done.

"Now we can deal with a lot of things. It gave me a chance to look at myself and it also gave other people a chance to look at themselves, what they think and the feelings they have about what was written on the wall.'' Ms Richardson said she believed the graffiti writers were frustrated because they are not being listened to in a meaningful way. She said listening -- as opposed to hearing -- also involved action.

Similarly, Warwick Secondary student Mr. Jason Trott, 17, said while he agreed with much of what was said through the graffiti, he did not believe defacing school property was the right thing to do.

"I agree with the writer's point or the message he (they) are trying to get out. A lot of young people are frustrated and they need to express themselves in some way.

"That (the graffiti) was only one way. As time goes on you will see more ways being expressed unless our problems are taken seriously.'' Mount St. Agnes student Mark Araujo, 18, said those responsible for the graffiti could have made their point in a different way.

"Instead of putting it on a wall, they could have chosen other way,'' he said.

Mr. Araujo also took aim at The Royal Gazette for not giving more details on the graffiti's content.

He said this was done to prevent the public from knowing everything that really was there.

Likewise Bermuda High School student Ms Kim Wheddon, 15, said the graffiti was "really bad,'' and it was a shame that people had to act in that manner.

"It seems a bit racist,'' she said. "But I also feel the writers should be given a chance before people start judging them.

"A lot of money went into improving the College property and someone is going to have to repaint it.'' Meantime, Ms Christina Howarth, 15, said the graffiti was disrespectful to all those who had put money into improvements at the College.

"It would take someone with common sense to know what they did is wrong -- very wrong.'' Mark Araujo Christine Howarth Cherie Richardson Jason Trott Kim Wheddon