States, "There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.'' That's a call for hope and trust in the future.

The thing which strikes us most forcefully is how true the statement is of Bermuda. Far too often we emphasise the negatives about our Country, and this newspaper is as guilty of that as anyone, and fail to point out what is good about Bermuda.

For a long time there has been a small number of vocal negative prophets who have managed to plant the idea that Bermuda is among the world's bad places.

Sometimes when you read them you have to wonder why anyone would want to live here yet we all go away and praise our home. Some people have done this out of frustration over their personal failures. Some have done it simply because they are negative people. And some have done it because they see political advantage in convincing Bermudians that are treated badly by their Country and that they are among the world's deprived. When Bermudians think about what they have, they know that negativism is not accurate because they know they are among the world's blessed people. But negative thought is catching and too many people follow the unhappy prophets.

There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism nor is there anything wrong with a Country which searches out its problems and embarks on constructive remedies. But we think that too often Bermudians criticise in order to destroy, and examine in order to defeat.

We have supported and do support such things as the Archibald reports on drugs and alcohol and the Tumim report on Bermuda's prison system. They both point to any number of ways to a better Bermuda.

We cannot support those people who constantly divide us to no gainful purpose.

Some of them magnify our flaws beyond their importance, and there are flaws, while dulling our hope in the future. These people dwell on the sins of the past and seek to convince other Bermudians that they should thrash themselves for things which they cannot change.

The truth is that Bermudians have the intelligence and the ability and the will to work on their problems and will do so more effectively if they are not often told to feel hopeless.

We should regret the commissions and the omissions of the past but they are history and we must live with them but not be defeated by them. We have to do our best for Bermuda today and tomorrow and keep in perspective the motives of the negative sayers.

Bermuda is not without hope or without a majority of things which are right.

As just one example, we are producing well educated and well provided for young people who often see Bermuda in better perspective than the adults do.

To poison these young people and to saddle them with guilt for the past is to damage them and we must learn not to defeat them before they have a chance to have their own say. We must also learn not to depress today's generation because it needs to get on with the job without unnecessary hindrance.

Bermudians have a great deal more than most people to be thankful for as a Country. We should not hide our problems but we must learn to deal with them in an open and healthy way and we must choose not to be diverted or discouraged by individuals with personal causes.