Time to make a changeOctober 2, 2011Dear Sir,There was a time in our history that could have defined us as a people. That could have been the shining light, oh what a shining light, for the world to see. An example for the world to not only see Bermuda as a beautiful island sitting out in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, but also as a people and a nation way ahead of its time.Being born in the year 1962, I was here during the formation of the party system, as children we live in our own developing world shielded from the horrors of adult struggles, their pains. We know nothing about their world, but they know everything about ours.As a man approaching 50 years old I have seen this country evolve, at a fast and slow rate. Some of its people benefited greatly, some very little and by and large some are OK. The most significant thing about this situation is we all fitted into one of the three categories mentioned above.The most significant object in a country is its people. Without it, it’s just land. Some people say we live in harmony, some may think that as well, but in reality we all know that is not true. We have so many things that divide us. As I previously mentioned I have lived almost a half century and we still have not come full circle with the problems that exist in this beautiful land we call our home Bermuda.When it comes to race relations we go around and around in a circle and never quite as yet to seem to find the exit to the straight and narrow road forward. It puzzles my mind. There is an accepted response when minorities catch an equal break that took so long and that is, “it’s time”. To me this is a sick mentality. We are one people of all races, creed, Politics, religious, social and economic divide.The most important word in the previous paragraph is the word divide, because some of the reasons I posted above is the reason why it exists.Reflecting back, there was a single moment where in a time of total turmoil where one influential individual could have given equal rights to all, levelled the playing field for all, given oneself independence, freed all of the suffering that was bestowed upon the oppressed and the depressed blacks, poor whites and Portuguese. With one stroke of a pen would have given equal education to all, banned private schools, integrated all children together, taught Bermuda history in our schools, that would have given women equal say and rights under the law. A man that would have used raised capital to build housing for the poor. Open up the bank vaults for people to borrow and buy a house, land or start a small business. In the back halls and boardrooms in which he functioned to great effect, influence many of his cohorts to put forward scholarships to further the then-deprived people to reach their full potential. Spoke of upward mobility for minorities within the work place. With a stroke of a pen he would have distributed the earnings in not only the economic welfare but also the sporting interest of this country as well.We speak about national heroes from time to time. But this is not about a national hero, no, this is about a man who could have moved the whole country forward to reconciliation by one heroic act. With that act, this gentleman would have been able to walk anywhere in Bermuda with hordes of people in tow. With blacks, whites, children, adults, rich and poor. If given an extended life no doubt I could have seen this man address the United Nations Assembly, to tell and show the world how all people can live together. In his era if this would have been done nearly fifty years on what a world Bermuda would be. Now we still would have had problems moving forward from all the nay-sayers, but, five decades later and Bermuda would have been a more wonderful island.I speak of an individual, a brilliant man by all accounts from the people who knew him. A man not of the people but from Front Street, a Forty Thieves member, a man mentioned as an evil genius by some. One who’s greatest accomplishment was building this very successful economy we live in today. A larger than life character in Bermuda’s history. The man I’m talking about is Sir Henry Tucker. And the heroic act! If one day Sir Henry Tucker had invited the black leaders of Bermuda (that was fighting him for equal rights for all) into his Front Street office for a meeting with crumpets and tea and said to them “I have done you wrong, the white establishment past and present who think and act like me have done you wrong, from this day forth how can we move forward together and share power?Nearly 50 years on this island still divided by race, creed, politics, religion, social and economically.Is it too late? Is there anyone to step forward and put their hand up and say,” I will take the initiative”. My grandson is approaching three years old, fifty years from now is he going to be experiencing the same thing? If you think you can than you are wrong. It’s going to take all of us.When do we start!BROWNLOW ADDERLEYSouthampton