April 3, 2013Dear Sir,Regular blogger and letter writer Kath Bell recently accused Maynard Dill of taking the ‘easy route’. She may well be right. Mrs Bell’s theme, in part, was that most anti-PLP blogging was reasoned and analytical. I disagree. This issue of blogging is fascinating. As a black man of a certain age now, it confirms to me what I have long believed. There is a core, underbelly of Bermuda that considers blacks to be inferior and in fact extrapolates their views of white superiority into the political realm with language that inflames the emotions of many blacks in this country. It is important to note that this will not be easy for some to fully understand; we’re in the realm now of what is said versus what is heard.For example, when a headline screams “They were told ...” when referring to term limits and the purported effects on the economy, one wonders to whom this might refer. Children? Prisoners? Untouchables? No, it’s a reference to the elected Government of the day. The headline and the story that followed seemed to suggest that the PLP did not have the right to, a) have their own policy views, and, b) be wrong about them. That sets black people on edge because the term “they were told” suggests that some superior being gave some instructions that were not followed. I know; it’s difficult.Here’s one more. In response to a story in today’s edition which featured extensive coverage of the Bean/Daniels planning matter, a blogger under the name of Miquel Katz says this:Miquel Katz: April 3, 2013 11:01am “If this was the worst thing the PLP did we’d be 1.5 billion dollars richer.”What I love about PLP supporters is that they don’t try to defend each other, they just say ...”the UBP was worse.” ... I’m paraphrasing of course, their grammar is usually poor ... “the UBP was worst.”Insulting the intelligence of PLP supporters is a regular thing for bloggers and OBA supporters generally. Is it possible that people can have different political views without being idiots as a result? For this blogger and those hundreds for whom he speaks, PLP supporters are of a certain ilk, class and educational background. As a black man with two degrees and a professional qualification, significant overseas working experience, children in university and my own home, who also happens to be a PLP supporter, this kind of blogging is offensive, racially stereotypical and divisive.However, it is instructive and I use it as such to remind my children of what Bermuda is really like and what some folk truly think about them and their peers.Therefore sir, for Mrs Bell, whose former liberalism I remember well; and for countless others who cannot fathom Maynard Dill’s sentiments, here’s a view into a different world, one in which what you think is reasonable political banter is in fact the worst (correctly used!) example of what ails this country.AS SIMONSPaget