Dear Sir,

Is it indeed a fact that the most important thing in this life is our historical past especially considering oppression, discrimination and rabid racism?

We are always reminded that to forget the past will certainly lead to a repetition of the abhorrent and disgraceful tyranny of man’s inhumanity to man on so many levels that includes race, sex, and geography. When do we move on?

The past cannot be ignored or expunged from memory but we should not be shackled by its awful aspects. We seem to forget the tribal atrocities irrespective of skin colour, which include slavery, murder and rape around the world. Our human past is replete with discrimination and prejudice of every imaginable stripe everywhere. We live in a fallen world both now and then without exception but we must forge forward for progress and accomplishment for our present in a world of never-ending challenges.

One thing is for sure and that is the past cannot be undone as though it did not happen, no matter how repulsive the memories.

Here in Bermuda the historical narrative of blacks in a racist segregationist society where whites ruled with a rod of iron and unfairness prevailed is that is all that seems to really matter, never mind notable change that has occurred over decades. Are we in the glorious era of racial perfection and fairness? Clearly we are not, but we have achieved real progress in this area with more work to be done.

The narrative that receives unbridled acceptance is we cannot do what is right because of past hurts of our black population. The positive advancements of our citizens in the black community continues to receive short shrift. It is routinely ignored as though nothing has really changed, but this of course is not true. Not all blacks are languishing from a bygone era of punishing segregation.

The Pathways to Status initiative is the right thing to do now and should not be prevented because of past injustices. Exactly when do we move forward after the lessons of the past that demonstrate where we went wrong? Admissions of wrongdoing have been expressed genuinely by sincere people who cannot undo past sins but see the need to move forward together.

If this is not the time to do right by our long-time residents because some in the black community still hurt from as long as 50 years ago, then the time will never be right.

The majority of the Bermudian electorate support pathways to status but this has been ground to dust by the minority who demonstrated loudly and prevented our legislature entry unlawfully to the House of Assembly, a thing that ought not be done.

This was not a victory but a disgrace that would not be allowed elsewhere because it would be sedition. Lessons have been learnt, such as when a softly, softly approach is taken by the authorities, then a loud, vocal minority with numbers will prevail.

The majority will have to suck it in and concede that this is democracy murdered with impunity and this will happen again!

WAYNE B. SCOTT