Vexed Bermoothes

I know that the UBP’s Sir John Swan doesn’t carry much freight with the current PLP leadership, but I do wonder why so many voices of moderation have been excluded from the big conversation.  This is common sense:

If Bermuda continues on its present trajectory of playing the racial blame game instead of committing to actual racial reconciliation, we will be doomed to repeat the mistakes of our forbearers.

Of course people need to be aware and acknowledge that racism still exists in Bermuda and we all need to actively fight against it with meaningful policies, but until we start to think of ourselves as one community we will continue to be self-destructive:

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

True to form, the PLP aggressi-bloggers immediately attack:

Do you agree with the United Bermuda Party’s elder statesman that white Bermudians should refuse to apologise for the deep injustices committed over centuries in this country?

This illustrates the PLP “define your opponent” trickery.  No-one is advising people to refuse anything.  They just don’t get it.  Sure, white people can apologise for our ancestors if they want.  And that changes life how?  But you can expect those same progressive white people to ask today’s PLP leaders to cut the racebaiting as well.  Conversations have two sides.

Also, by referring only to a “UBP elder statesman” I assume they are hoping their followers will conclude the speaker is some regressive white – not the very popular John Swan – thus illustrating exactly the dysfunction that Sir John is describing.

But how can we “start to think of ourselves as one community” when so many in power wish merely to stir the pot of divisiveness and to re-live the battles of the 1950s?

Governments improve life by governing well.  Big conversations happen between people, not Government decree or by committee.  Healing will come from the grassroots and common motivations – and I think that healing is hampered by the “old guard” still in power.

See my earlier post on Identity Politics.