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BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

Get over ‘materialistic mindset’ Swan

The Island will not see peace until Bermudians overcome a “materialistic mindset”, United Bermuda Party MP Kim Swan last night warned.And Mr Swan added that Bermuda’s journey from segregation had coincided with “a massive shift in the way our families operated particularly within the black community”. He said Bermuda was now encountering its most challenging period since the Second World War. “We as a people must be open-minded, and recognise that this difficult period also presents an opportunity for us to overcome our materialistic mindset.”Noting the “erosion of the moral backbone”, the UBP leader said: “Today, most law-abiding people of Bermuda are perplexed by both the violence which has engulfed our little country, whilst simultaneously dealing with the inability of numerous Bermudians to find work or sufficient work to cope with Bermuda’s high cost of living.“These challenges are made more difficult with the ‘I want it and I want now’ materialistic mindset that permeates the minds of too many of our people.”He said 1960s desegregation had been followed by a mindset shift where “having access to more has meant having less in values”. Bermuda’s youngest generation required a new set of values, Mr Swan said, calling for “more opportunities to engage seniors to work with and mentor preschool and primary school age children”.“Ironically, both groups face challenges and can be of great benefit to each other. Our seniors know best the value of old fashion good values, would appreciate sharing their knowledge, and many could use the financial consideration,” Mr Swan said.“Our youngest generation would grow up with a first hand appreciation of their forefathers. The current generation would also learn from seeing good work in progress.”He warned: “To those who feel that the answer is only to fix the economy and the rest will take care of its self, let me say, there will not be peace until we collectively as a people put the social ill-health of our people front and centre.”