Vexed Bermoothes

One of the early mottos of the Royal Gazette was

State Super Vias Antiquas

This saying apparently came from Jeremiah 6:16 by way of Sir Francis Bacon. You may ask, why is Vexed bringing this up? Why, because it sums up Bermuda’s situation today.

The rough translation is “Stand at the crossroads and look at the old paths, find the best one, and follow it.” According to Bacon it describes the opposing dangers of too much caution and conservatism on the one hand, and too much change on the other. Or as Bacon put it:

antiquity envieth there should be new additions, and novelty cannot be content to add but it must deface

This certainly is a balance that troubles Bermuda. The biblical among you will recall that a rather large amount of smiting takes place next in Jeremiah. The Hebrews’ pursuit of novelty led them to worship false gods. And the valley of the slaughter.

The phrase also sums up the role the media should play investigating both sides of issues with balance. In not supporting dogma just because that’s the way it’s always been, but at the same time not swallowing spin.