The table of brotherhood envisioned by the great civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr will never become reality without making full use of the negotiating table to sort out political, racial or ethnic differences that have left so many large and small countries in disarray. Hatred and divisiveness in those regards have ruled the day.

Out-of-control anger and rage may be appealing to certain segments of a society facing tough times economically or socially, but solutions are never found when emotions and fury overrun the ability to tap into reason and common logic in trying to reach common ground to solve complex problems.

Recent world history has left many lessons in how people have been plunged into indescribable suffering through misguided leaders with motives and agendas outside of decency respect and a desire to build a society where peace, freedom, and opportunity are key factors for all citizens.

America is experiencing at present what some have described as the most bitter and nasty campaigns to elect a new president in the nation’s history. Insults between some candidates on the debate stage may have produced a few laughs for those who see the process as a new form of reality TV, but the reality is that much of the nation is concerned that when degrading behaviour becomes the norm, the nation’s value system is under threat. Most sound-thinking Americans are not prepared to accept that, but they will need to make their voices heard.

The negotiating table should always be the place to express opposing viewpoints, no matter how sensitive the subject.

However it should be clear that there are times when people feel strong enough to exercise their right to protest through marches or demonstrations as a last resort. When such action is taken, it should be within the rules that protect the basic order of a civil society, with the objective of returning to the negotiating table.

That table should be more than a piece of furniture that serves as a buffer zone for different viewpoints. It should be used as means to close the gap between misunderstanding and bitterness, which block efforts to even think about the brotherhood table that Dr King dreamt about.

Too often protests and demonstrations can be hijacked by some with disruptive motives, and that can create a problem for those seeking orderly and peaceful change in policies they find objectionable.

Democracy provides the freedom of expression for all, and it works best when respect and decency are on the board during discussions.

When tempers are allowed to boil over during any dispute, with statements made in vitriolic tones in public by those in leadership positions, it raises questions about underlying objectives, especially in the political arena. All leaders should do more thinking before speaking.

In the United States, the Republican candidate Donald Trump, during a campaign speech, said he would destroy even the families of terrorists, and that he would torture captured suspects to gain information. That drew applause from many in the audience.

Of course he was forced to eat a little crow on that stance, since international law prohibits the killing of civilians, and torture has been condemned even by the US Government. The bottom line is that any leader should think carefully before making statements that incite or conflict sharply with international standards concerning human rights.

Our leaders, regardless of political allegiance, should openly condemn any calls for shutting the island down, which is sometimes heard during heated moments of protests. Bermuda has much to gain during these times of unstoppable diversity, which much of the world is embracing.

There are always challenges in merging different cultures, but how they are dealt with will depend on willingness to never abandon the negotiation table in seeking solutions. Bermudians have a rich heritage, and a part of that heritage is the ability to apply common sense and reason during challenging times.