Tolerate our differencesJanuary 8, 2005

Dear Sir,I was born in Bermuda many years ago. I have lived here all my life except when I was at college in the US. In college I majored in sociology and history and I have a further degree in business. I have studied many cultures and I have read the history of many people including those of African heritage. I am convinced that many, if not most, of the issues that we have in Bermuda are based on an intolerance for the cultural values of others - and not the colour of a man’s skin. That is not to say that the colour of a persons skin doesn’t come into play — most people who share the cultural heritage of Africans tend to be black! — but I firmly believe that it’s the intolerance of the differences in our values and beliefs that causes us more problems than the colour of our skin.

People of different cultural backgrounds have historically not tolerated each other. Look at the Arabs and the Jews; the Catholics and the Protestants; the Americans and the Muslims; and, yes, the Africans and the Europeans. Whether it’s religion, social mores, or political beliefs, we humans have an incredible history of not tolerating differences. Morgan Freeman recently said that, in his view, the way to get rid of racism was to stop talking about it. Essentially he was saying he didn’t think it was the real problem but the more we talked about it as if it were the real cause of our problems, well, then it would become the cause. I’m not sure that I go along with this completely but I do see the point and I think if we stopped addressing all our problems as having their root in the colour of our skin, we may actually get somewhere.

Sir, it truly is all about tolerance. All those people who scream and yell about racism and all of the people whom they are yelling at are not going to change. Those people I mentioned before, and others throughout history, have been arguing back and forth for hundreds of years and nothing has materially changed. Unless we want to waste our time preaching to one another my suggestion is that we start tolerating and trying to understand our differences. We don’t have to agree with the way others live their lives, I’m only suggesting that we try to understand that different cultures have different values and beliefs and there is room for all of us.

I remember some years ago listening to David Lopes show and he said (he probably forgets he ever said it) in response to a caller ‘The truth is what YOU believe the truth to be’ or words to that effect. The point he was making is that one mans truth is not necessarily another man’s truth. The same goes for values, beliefs and social behaviour. And the sooner we stop blaming all our problems on race and start tolerating our differences, the better.PLATO

SouthamptonOur own worst enemiesJanuary 9, 2006

Dear Sir,As a black man and a victim of racism, institutional racism and discrimination after 18 years with a local institution, I don’t wear a suit to work anymore and my employment benefits have changed. As a black man, can I expect my black sisters to support my struggle for justice by being honest and to tell the truth to help reverse an injustice or should I expect my black brothers to determine or undermine their own ambitions by not keeping quiet and not hope that such problems will just go away.

No. As black people, we all know that racism exists in Bermuda, yet we refuse to get involved, speak up and support each other unless there is an obvious political or ideological agenda. As a black man, I know that even though white Bermudians refuse to address racism collectively, a greater problem remains when people that look like me fear retribution for speaking up. Where does the greater evil lie?

As a black man, why do our black sisters desert us, but a few white people will not and care enough to help or try to fix a problem that refuses to move Bermuda forward? Can we be our own worst enemy, as Black power appears to be limited to our own bastardly ambitions and greed? When our title changes from colonial servants to independent servants, will we remain economic and mental slaves...?ANOTHER ANGRY BLACK MAN

Warwick