Having a disagreement is one of the fundamental traits of the human experience and throughout history has always been at the centre of disputes between individuals, groups and even countries.

This has happened to a degree where the inability to sort out opposing views has led to unbridled conflict with devastating results.

When tempers exceed the boiling point over a particular issue, there is less opportunity to discuss all aspects involved, something that is vital to build a bridge towards finding a solution.

This holds true for Governments in democratic settings, who find themselves confronted with strong opposition over an initiative that is perceived by many as having ulterior motives. Perceptions are not always based on fact and too often the mere thought that something might not align with their interests is enough to touch off a firestorm of anger. And unless the Government in question has the ability to communicate with the disgruntled in a manner that promotes better understanding of proposals, an impasse is unavoidable.

The “them-and-us” syndrome becomes so entrenched that both sides adopt a posture that leaves practically no room for give and take, which is usually necessary if any type of compromise can be attained. Without that, anger and bitterness can escalate into civil unrest and disruption of civic order.

When disputes involving the people and authorities in any democracy are allowed to linger too long without a resolution, the likelihood for a breakdown of civic order increases. Not a good thing.

Strong leadership is required on both sides of any dispute to negotiate a path away from reaching a point of no return. Unfortunately, there was no pause button to press that would have put a freeze on the protests and demonstrations over the immigration reform that Government is proposing.

In other words, Bermuda needs to take a deep breath and reflect on how best to express disapproval or support for any sensitive issue without threatening to sink the ship.

Surely lessons have been learnt over the years — that mass work stoppages, for whatever reason, disrupt basic services for people on both sides of a dispute.

Most people had the view that legislation was in place to deal with any major dispute without shutting down the islands’s business infrastructure.

In the middle of a storm at sea, no one on a ship wants to hear that the captain and officers are fighting each other on the bridge over who is best to steer the vessel to calmer waters. Without co-operation, they, along with passengers, are in peril. Bermuda must do better in dealing with disputes that connect with people’s emotions linked so deeply to our social history.

Few would dispute that throughout the years this island has seen considerable progress to open doors that help to produce a healthier and more diverse society.

That work is still in progress and nobody or no group should be allowed to turn the clock back.

We should be watching the United States closely. There is massive concern that someone running for president has fallen terribly short in projecting the qualities that are generally expected when seeking that nations’s highest office.

That man, Donald Trump, heads the GOP run at the moment and has made good use of getting his supporters worked into a frenzy by suggesting that anyone who disrupts one of his rallies should be taken out by stretcher.

At one point he even openly stated how he would have punched a protester in the face. In another breath he claims he is against all violence. Something is wrong here. The American people will have to decide how to handle these mixed messages.

Here in Bermuda, the Government has withdrawn the Pathways to Status Bill, with the plan now to table different elements of it in a staggered timetable later this year, giving people the proper chance to consult and debate the issues at hand.

The OBA must also surely plan to re-examine how best to implement a process that has generated such contempt through either misunderstanding or poor communication.

It is not a question of totally withdrawing the policy, which in the long run has some merit, but it is a question of calming the situation before things spiral out of control.

We need to cool it big time, because it only takes a few people to slip out of control, and do things that will harm our growth potential.

We have been that way before and now is the time to use old-fashioned Bermuda common sense to get the island back on course.

Yes, there are still problems to be worked out, but that should be done through communication and not intimidation. We can do it if we try.