IF I have to hear or read one more self-serving, logically-twisted submission by Calvin Smith on the subject of Independence for Bermuda ? and no doubt there will be many, many more between now and the next emotionally-charged election ? I may just pack my bags and leave quietly, before being publicly required to either "get on board" or . . . or what, Mr. Smith? . . . Or what?

Everything that I have contributed, or my parents or grandparents have contributed to Bermuda is of no consequence ? that much has already been made clear, quite directly, and sometimes more subtly, but nonetheless in every possible way.

This troubles me not in the least, but what does Mr. Smith require? False attestations of confidence in the road the PLP has taken and is hell-bent on taking us all? Denial of all rational assessment of acts of retribution and corruption? Praise for blatant mismanagement, misappropriation and in some cases outright theft of public funds? Dismissal of public refusal to conform to the same standards we expect of all residents of these blessed isles?

. Not in the least. It is a confidence issue. For example, I have far more confidence in many world leaders of non-Caucasian origin, than George W. Bush, Jr., whom I personally hold for a poorly educated, dangerously ignorant fool. Neither his 'colour' nor his party play a part in my assessment. It is what he has inflicted on his own country that brings me to my opinion.

Similarly, I am not boarding a ship of torn sails, full of rats and holes and without rudder, just because some political re-education committee (shades of Stalin's political re-education system surely come to mind ? for those of us who still dare to keep our own) slyly presented as a 'think-tank' tries to brainwash us with so called 'experts', who would redefine the meaning of the world indigenous, and warn us of the dangers of a referendum!

Just who have elected themselves to the Political Re-education Committee for Independence? Oh yes: Calvin Smith's son (what a surprise!); then someone whom the electorate had failed to elect on occasions too numerous to remember and, yes, even the Corporation of Hamilton failed to elect. (This the most undemocratic of organisations ? could he not have bribed someone?); a former PLP core member who was expelled from the inner synod of power for wishing himself King; the King's sister whose deep bitterness makes it impossible for her to appreciate that self-esteem is not a birthright, but something souls of any shade only acquire after making a worthwhile contribution to life; and one or two others to make it look as though the UBP is thoroughly supportive. Which it is not.

Sir, please do not print my name, as I am secretly continuing to form my own opinions and consider this oh-so-predictable, monumental playing up of a non-topic, namely Independence, for a calculated distraction from political and social reality. The truth is (get this through to your brain, Mr. Smith) no one is very interested and we should view with suspicion those who would fling the race card in our eyes.

We should continue to cultivate a colour-blind attitude to all residents. Most of us are that way if for no other reason than survival, although I think it is because we ? the whole darn boatload ? do actually care about our collective future, but do not require some falsely implanted neo-national identity.

That we are quite happy with the one we have was surely in evidence at Sunday's football match against El Salvador. The political re-education team will never drum up that kind of support!