Take responsibility

August 16, 2006

Dear Sir,

In response to C.K. Simons? letter to the editor titled ?Don?t jail delinquent dads? and dated August 13, 2006; young men (of all ethnic backgrounds) should be willing to take responsibility for their actions instead of relying on Mr. Simons? blame tactics (i.e. blame the women, blame the condom, blame the malfunctioning birth control). Mr. Simons, here?s a suggestion: before you choose to involve yourself in an intimate relationship with a women, why don?t you consider the countless outcomes to this encounter. Pregnancy could be the least of your worries; there are dozens of incurable diseases, which you Mr. Simons could be treating for the remainder of your life.

Finally, in the last paragraph of your rambling letter you make the following address to women in general, ?if you want me to be the father of a child, ask my permission!? In response, I say to you, if you don?t want to be a father and are unwilling to accept the inherent responsibility of your actions, then you should think twice before having sex.

Wake up man, take responsibility!

Pay parking foolish

July 31, 2006

Dear Sir,

I feel compelled to inform your readers of the plans to introduce a new paying parking scheme at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. This scheme will require patients, visitors and employees to pay to park on the hospital site.

I am voicing my concerns as I have witnessed first hand the introduction of similar schemes in a number of other hospitals. In my experience the usual promises of ?increased security? and ?better facilities? is outweighed by the negative effects for the users and local community.

Primarily, patients and visitors using the emergency department or rushing to the maternity unit who are often already anxious and feeling stressed are expected to find the correct change, and spend precious time displaying their ticket to avoid the threat of having there cars clamped.

The other main problem I have witnessed following the introduction of paying parking schemes is the high impact upon the local area, I predict that many visitors and staff will begin to park in the residential areas around the hospital, which will lead to increased congestion on the roads and frustrated local residents. I am sure that one knock on effect will be having to pay to park at the neighbouring botanical gardens.

In addition the expectation upon employees to have to pay to park at work, although a nominal amount, results in them feeling undervalued by their employer and leads to demotivation. At a time where many hospitals across the world are struggling to recruit for key roles, surely this ?nominal fee? could be waived by the hospital?

A better way

August 16, 2006

Dear Sir,

I cannot feel anything but despair over the recently inflamed race debates and race-rallying in Bermuda. I can only hope you might publish this letter to encourage transformation to a climate rather of rational, progressive discussion.

As a whole, Bermudians are a well-educated, wealthy and privileged community. This alone should allow a certain mature level of discourse. More than that, however, Bermuda enjoys a unique cultural, economic, social and political history that is unlike any other nation in the world. Despite having an origin inescapably influenced by unjust global economic and social temperaments (i.e. racial inequality, discrimination and colonial oppression), we nonetheless currently enjoy dominion as a highly autonomous and uniquely close-knit nation with strong political, economic and social means and desires to bring about change. We have not only the advantage of resource and opportunity to engage in dynamic socio-economic discussion, but the precious privilege of a political climate actually capable of affecting changes.

Why is it, then, that Bermuda can?t seem to capitalise on these exceptional potentials? In searching for answers to our island?s questions of weaknesses and failures, it seems we are recoursing to proverbial tired debates about racism and oppression ? to the effect of proliferating repressive illusions about the hopelessness of the situation. Radical changes are proposed as counter-measures to these illusions. (Perhaps this ghost-chase helps explains majority uneasiness about independence.)

Deep down we all understand it is within our power to shape positive changes in Bermuda. Rather than entertaining sensationalism, emotionalism and the victimisation/divisive powers of ?politricks?, we need to be asking innovative questions to get innovative answers about our static situation.

For example, while it is historically noble and morally compelling to implicate racial injustice in Bermuda?s struggles, might it be more useful to adopt an essentially colour-blind focus towards pervasive and insidious rotting roots (say, affordable housing, public education and economic disparity)? While race at one point closely mirrored wealth, opportunity and success ? and obviously the correlation is still significant ? we might nevertheless find tractable victory in breaking these chains of race stigmatisation.

By helping to alleviate Bermudians of the self-conscious repressive reality of racial identity pressures and expectations (both internal and external and varied across economic strata of every race) we will be in a better situation to address the critical problems stifling the success of all our children and future generations.

Shelby Steele, a black American race-relations research fellow at Hoover Institution, Stanford University, is one such proponent of a controversial call for race-transcendence precisely in order to tackle the unwavering crisis of modern black disparity in the US. Shamed publicly as ?a house slave? (sound familiar?), Steele?s analyses, arguments and visions are nevertheless compelling and worthy of at least consideration.

It?s about time that Bermuda engaged in serious discussion about the shortcomings of our current system, who exactly we are leaving behind, why, and with what impact this is transforming our community. With ample means already in place, why aren?t we aspiring to our full potential by igniting a sincere revolution towards holistic betterment of our tiny unique island paradise?

Let us not throw the baby out with the bath water in these times of swollen fiery outcries of concern about Bermuda and our future. We?re just capable of so much more.

We need more inclusion

July 30, 2006

Dear Sir,

One hundred years ago Dr. William DuBois wrote very powerfully articles, which captured the essence of the Black psycho/socio-position entering the 20th Century. One of the points he raised was the need to be self-critical and to be able to evaluate positions and strategies that they (the blacks of USA) assumed to be for their best interest. No matter how fair seeming, his advice was to scrutinise thoughts and activism within the black community, to determine how they measured up to both the comprehensive needs as a beleaguered group and also as a member of the human family.

I find it interesting because one hundred years ago Mr. DuBois recognised that in addition to the need for a modality to bring about self-awareness and upward mobility for the former slave, there was the need also to participate in those issues that bought about a better world and environment for the human family. One may ask what relevance W. DuBois? thoughts of one hundred years ago have today.

Without descending into names, I was challenged by an activist who wants to argue my support for referendum and direct democracy as betrayal of black interest. He takes that position because he sees the needs within the black community through a narcissistic lens.

The world has shifted, humans are demanding more and more inclusion within their societies, democratic systems are under intellectual review. All or any examples of a world moving towards a higher more participatory democracy, is meaningless to an activist who would cling to any thread of legitimacy to achieve a contrived mandate on Independence where he can avoid the issue of popular support.

Let me say the issue of gaining popular support particularly on a contentious issue in my view calls on the best arts of leadership. The issue of sovereignty for Bermuda and perhaps more importantly people?s enthusiasm for the idea is a leadership issue. The fact remains that no leader has, to date, the ability to broach the subject without facing either outrage and contempt or just plain avoidance.

Blaming it on race is simply avoiding the leadership component. One danger for leaders, who delight in steadfastness on an issue, is that their style in real terms may be better categorised as Obstinacy particularly when those leaders persist on conviction alone to win a point. All leaders of this twenty first century must think and understand global as a prerequisite to act or think local.

So to my dear activist friends, we as Bermudians and yes black Bermudians must begin to appreciate those methods that are recognised globally and no, we are not betraying but benefiting both our cause as a race and the cause of broader humanity when we use those universal tools that work.

The real oppressors

August 15, 2006

Dear Sir,

I am just about convinced now that the relentless push to take Bermuda to Independence by a few PLP party stalwarts is simply one of revenge; of a deep-seated resolve to ?kick British butt?. Such backward thinking stresses me, however. Why waste precious time with vendettas againstpast masters when time and effort could be more-meaningfully spent on eradicating the very real present-day masters (read: forces of oppression) like lawlessness, drugs, violence, rampant materialism, homelessness and residential overcrowding, parental neglect, corruption, perversion, the overwhelming level of responsibility for children by women versus the underwhelming level of responsibility for children by men, apathy, confusion, disrespect, lack of individual accountability, lack of opportunity, lack of motivation, self-serving individualism and on and on and on it goes!

You?ve heard it said that ?the clothes don?t make the man?, well, equally, ?a flag doesn?t a strong and proud people make?! Vision, values and action in accordance with those values will help to unify us and guide our choices.

I urge those in positions of leadership to do the right thing by the people of this country, and I urge us all to demand that they do.