September 3, 2007

THIS letter is prompted by the recent articles on educational matters. I am led to the despairing conclusion that all that will follow will be as ill- advised and unfair as making Rosemary Tyrell the scapegoat.

In the first place she was not in the role long enough to be responsible for all that is wrong with public education. That has been developing for years (probably since our rather superficial racial integration when "integrated" blacks became more concerned with being "integrated" and with whites than with the continued need for the development of the black community!).

Moreover, Ms Tyrell was the best thing that had happened in education for along time for so many reasons. Many believe that it was her integrity and excellence which made some decision-makers uncomfortable, so, like "The Tech" she had to go.

The appointment of Ms Ellen Kate Horton by the Public Service Commission suggests that they do not live in Bermuda or have any contact with Bermudians.

Even if Ms Horton was the very best candidate available the mere potential for "conflict of interest" should have precluded her appointment. Her attack on a Principal for not sending his child to a public school when her own did not go reflects a lack of rational thought.

Her appointment under the potential "conflict of interest" circumstances is an insult to the black community.

I clearly understand racial voting but when blacks vote for blacks because they are black, we have a responsibility to demand a higher level of integrity that does not involve the potential for conflict of interest. Blacks should be morally superior to whites (note: I did not say inherently, genetically superior: moral behaviour is a choice.) Blacks should be morally superior because they know the cost of injustices and the lack of principled conduct. Too many appointments do not seem to reflect considered moral judgments at all. Power need morality.

The numerous complaints from the working class about the evident flaws in the immigration policies suggest that blacks voting for blacks have not given the black community either the political or moral returns they have a right to expect. Ms Horton is certainly not alone in her view of blacks lacking respect for blacks and our ongoing dependency on "foreign expertise". We have turned to the English, the Canadians, the Caribbeans and now the African Americans but seldom to the black Bermudians when we are the only ones who can solve our own problems.

We may be incompetent and as immoral as we clearly often are, but as long as we, as black voters, are stuck with Bermudian politicians who are likely to be equally incompetent and immoral, we should insist that they put up with us.

Certainly we who deliberately vote black must begin to demand greater fairness and a more just society from our black leaders and never mind that the white community will hear the expression of our dissatisfaction and concern with our black politicians. We, as a community, must demand more respect from those to whom we have given the privilege and responsibility of making decisions. Too often they show little respect for the general community.

DR. EVA N. HODGSON

PS: As for Independence, when we really want Independence, we will not need an Independence Commission to whip up our interest any more than that was necessary any where else!