The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs recently launched a campaign seeking to discover the true Bermudian identity. Yesterday, The Royal Gazette took to the streets, interested in learning what makes people ‘Proud to be Bermudian’.Warwick resident Stefan Smith, 24, said: “Fortunately I was blessed to be born and raised in Bermuda. To me, being Bermudian is all the experiences I’ve had growing up here things like going fishing off the rocks, swimming on the beaches, those kinds of things. I’m proud to be Bermudian because Bermuda is one of the most beautiful places in the world and the people are unique. In the future I hope that we can find ways to be innovative and use our resources to be successful.”Forty-five-year-old Sandys resident Ed Daniels said: “Being Bermudian to me is the beautiful ocean, friendly people and our beautiful Island. I’m proud of our Island home because of all these things. I hope that in the future, we can actually get back to being Bermudian; hugging and helping each other.”Another Sandys resident, 38-year-old Eugene Dean said: “Being Bermudian is different to different people, but I find that being Bermudian is generally our consistence. This isn’t unique to Bermuda, but common qualities that genuine Bermudians have are kindness, being giving, and being social. Bermudians are also well kept, humble and caring people who always speak to you and are helpful and courteous.“I’m most proud to be Bermudian when I travel and hear Bermudians and people that have been to Bermuda speaking positively about their experiences here. Bermudians show that the simple quality of kindness can really touch someone when they come from places where kindness is uncommon.“In the future, I hope we are wise enough to maintain the intangible things that have made Bermuda a good place over the years and I hope that we continue running a successful tourist operation. Above all, unity is what we need because it comprehensively addresses all our problems. We need to come together.”Pembroke resident Henry Smith, who is 63, said: “To be Bermudian is to be part of a unique and diverse yet compact culture. We are all thrown together on this little island and have to interact with the diverse people here every day. Bermudians have always been different, special and friendly; but we’ve lost some of those qualities. We don’t work together, we’re critical of each other and we only worry about ourselves.”“Proud to be Bermudian is not how I’d describe my pride. I am proud to be who I am, I am fortunate and lucky to be Bermudian and I am proud to be part of the Bermuda success story. I think we should instil pride in our citizens but we should also appreciate how lucky we are. We should only be proud if we [as Bermudians] are doing the right thing.”“I hope that in the future we can be more like we used to be. I hope that we can share our success and that we realise that we’re lucky to be Bermudian, but we still need to be welcoming to people who come to the Island from other places. Bermuda is an amazing place.”One 53-year-old Southampton man said: “It means pride in my country. I’m proud to be Bermudian because I’ve lived in Canada and the UK but Bermuda is definitely the best place to live. It is a very good place to raise a family and people get along. In the future, I’d like to see all Bermudians fully employed. Everything depends on the upcoming election. I hope we will be better off than we are now.”An 82-year-old man who now lives abroad said: “Bermuda is where I was born, everybody is proud of where they are born. Bermuda doesn’t sound as good as when I was young. I think that in the future the Government needs to be stricter with the people.”Pembroke resident, 18-year-old Shantea Looby said: “It’s an honour to be Bermudian. As a small island, we have a lot to offer. I’m proud to be Bermudian because a lot of other islands have lost their culture and history, but Bermuda has maintained both. In the future I hope that we can do better financially and that we continue to sponsor and support our youth because they really are our future.”Former Miss Teen Bermuda, 18-year-old Shaunte Simons of Devonshire said: “We have island life but it’s different to Caribbean life because it’s so expensive here and we’re more materialistic. Everyone has to have the iPad and iPhone and all that. I like being Bermudian because I like being able to go to the UK and the US with no visa. I’m proud of how friendly we are and how someone’s day can be brightened by someone smiling or saying hi to you on the street. In the future I hope the younger generation changes their outlook on life because if they do they can give our Country so much more.”Paget resident Alicia DeSilva said: “Being from an island is amazing. We take for granted the Island’s beauty. I’m proud to be Bermudian because, although we’re a colony, we are pretty self-sustaining, and we are one of the world’s richest countries. In the future I would like to see Bermuda remain a colony because although we are self-sufficient, having the UK in the background makes me feel safe; it’s kind of like a safety net if anything was to go wrong.”Longtime resident Jean Claude Garzia said in an e-mail sent in response to our article on the campaign: “I may not be a Bermudian on paper, but in my heart, I am a Bermudian. Everywhere I go I promote Bermuda. There is nowhere else like Bermuda in the world. [After living] 32 years in Bermuda, what does that make me? It means that you [Bermudians] are the friendlier people on Earth. Once you touch our hearts we will always remember. I am proud to be a Bermudian, because [it is] my Country. It’s the most beautiful paradise in the world. Tourists will always come to Bermuda, it is a safe destination, and [is] surrounded with great people.”