The town hall held on September 29 was unprecedented in that the Minister of National Security invited both the Governor and the Commissioner of Police to join him on a panel to reflect on Bermuda’s cycle of violence, and to receive input from the general public. The overflowing crowd read the play, as was evident by their spirited engagement in the process.

The scenario allowed for a ground-up civic approach to a thorny matter. In fact, it reflects glimpses of the best of a culture that fosters democracy. The crowd of up to 600 people, diverse in age but not by race, was demonstrating a sense of agency — exemplifying some readiness to be a part of the solution. This, even in expressing their gloom regarding the spread of an extraordinary lack of reverence for the lives of others.

As we gathered at the town hall — on a flotilla somewhere in the Mediterranean — up to 500 people from more than 60 countries were exercising agency regarding the extraordinary lack of reverence for the lives of the residents of Gaza.

Those hundreds represented civil societies who took peaceful action in the face of their governments’ inertia in addressing the blatant starvation of more than a million people — at least half of whom are children.

This circumstance exemplifies how the human family is at an iconic crossroads. This is evident on the local level with the “cycle of violence”, while globally warmongers run roughshod over defenceless folk, killing tens of thousands of children.

Regarding the town hall, let me respectfully disagree with the suggestion made by the generally insightful Eugene Dean that the minister inviting the Governor is evidence that “the Government has lost its handle on the community”.

If we pause and reflect on this decades-long crisis, we can see that it is calling for a change in approach — a renaissance, if you will. As we remain a British Overseas Territory, the Governor’s role, supported by us the taxpayers, includes acting as the principal of national security. Let me suggest that Michael Weeks, the minister, exercised the type of out-of-the-box insight that is obviously needed at this juncture.

That said, the input of the likes of Mr Dean is also essential. If we are to foster the necessary transformation, what is required are all hands on deck. I for one have witnessed first-hand Mr Dean’s contributions when working closely with him regarding the challenge of sustainable energy. Of course, like all of us, he is always learning.

Let me suggest that this local crisis will require the collective wisdom of our entire village. At the town hall, I raised the reality that we as humans have the option to be guided by either our competitive selves or our collaborative selves.

If we seek to leverage the best of the whole, we will recognise that comes from a paradigm appreciating that we are all always learning. That will shift our approaches towards exemplifying a healthy sense of humility, thus promoting collaboration and forging a spirit of solidarity across the island, which would include even those stranded on the margins.

I look forward to a follow-up to the town hall, and to engage with any and all who recognise that the renaissance will require “One Love”.

• Glenn Fubler represents Imagine Bermuda