Vexed Bermoothes

Tom Vesey argues that “Our leaders must change their tone on race” in the Bermuda Sun:

MPs congratulated themselves heartily after their impromptu “race debate” last Friday … While praising themselves for launching a “big conversation” on race among the Bermudian people, they have proven to be almost totally incapable of mature sustained dialogue on the subject…

White Bermudians – and black Bermudians too, for that matter – are yearning for somebody who can tackle their country’s problems – including the problem of racial division and inequality – without pushing us forever backwards with name-calling, stereotyping, and other forms of mindless divisiveness…

But instead of clear and calmly-reasoned action, what they are dishing up far too often is backwards-looking childish rhetoric.

This formula does not work, it will not work and it cannot work.

The road forward is inevitably difficult. But until our leaders change their tone, it is will be completely impassable.