one of the most complex social issues in Bermuda today. He has challenged white Bermudians to sign on with the Opposition party. As quoted in this newspaper, he has said that it is misleading and untrue to suggest that the PLP does not accept whites.

Of course it accepts whites but the problem is that it does not attract whites nor does it provide much for whites other than those who wish to protest, like Danny Faries who has a reputation as a wanton fisherman but is promoted by the PLP as a conservationist.

Mr. Burgess has said the problem is created by negative and even punitive reactions from the white community to would-be white PLP members and candidates. We would much prefer that Bermudians live in today's world rather than dwelling on the sins of the past 400 years which we have a frightening tendency to do but Mr. Burgess is correct when he says that whites who have joined the PLP or expressed sympathies with the PLP in the past have been put upon. Is that still true today? Probably socially although we doubt that anyone today could or would be forced from their job or have their mortgage revoked.

We think it is true to say that Bermuda will never be politically mature until its people stop fussing about which party Bemudians subscribe to. In other countries there is much less concern over an individual's political orientation and much less mistrust of individuals because of their party affiliations. Far too often in Bermuda it is obvious that members of the largely black PLP question the motives of people, especially black people, who belong to the United Bermuda Party. It is also common to hear UBP adherents say: "Be careful, he's PLP you know.'' We also think that upward mobility in Bermuda has been easier for blacks who make their UBP sympathies clear than it has been for adherents of the PLP. We think that comes not from race but from the "be careful'' political syndrome.

All of that has a debilitating tendency to divide a small Island which has to learn that the way forward is together and that separation is dangerous for everyone. It also has the disagreeable side effect of breaking down into race and even racism because a division which has to do with politics is seen as racism and a racial division.

The truth seems to be that the great majority of whites will not think of joining the PLP because they do not believe that it can meet their needs in terms of economic success or social satisfaction. That is also very true of the black Bermudians who stick loyally with the UBP and have carried it to power for over 30 years. Let us say that they have often been just as badly maligned by PLP supporters as white PLP adherents have been by UBP supporters.

These blacks and whites are relatively satisfied if not always totally happy with the way the UBP governs. They are not PLP supporters because they are basically conservative people and fear that if the PLP comes to power the radical elements will replace the more middle of the road members. They are frightened, rightly or wrongly, that the PLP cannot maintain a highly successful economy and they are scared of those people in the PLP who would "settle scores''.

It is obvious, as Mr. Burgess says, that the only way the PLP can be integrated is for white people to join. The UBP is integrated because black Bermudians joined it and have enjoyed political success. The difference is that the UBP welcomes black Bermudians. We are not so sure that a comfort zone for white Bermudians exists in the PLP where the anti-Front Street stand is seen by whites as anti-white.