Proud to be colour blind

Dear Sir,

I read in the other day again about racism. I really can't believe that this is still going on and the thing is that it is not just white and black any more. What the Hell. As I was growing up I was taught to treat people as I wanted them to treat me no matter the colour of the skin. I am a white Bermudian lady.

My grandmother was the one who taught me the most. Her grandmother used to live on Princess Street, where she visited quite often. My grandmother was also the post mistress for the Post Office. She had great respect for her staff and they did for her too. With her actions and with the way she talked taught me a lot.

I grew up on Happy Valley and my best friend was black. We use to go everywhere together. We would follow the gombeys down to Court Street and watch them dance. In growing up I have never felt uncomfortable going and hanging around these places. I left the Island for a few years and when I returned, I could not believe the way some people were thinking.

I went to work for an exempted company and how I was treated by some of the staff was outrageous. They were judging me without knowing me. First of all they did not think I was Bermudian because of my accent. One day two ladies stood next to me to talk about school uniforms. One of the ladies actually said, "I am not buying those socks because white children wear that type."

Socks, for crying out loud. How small minded are some people? They did not want me to touch the same phone as they used or to even sit next to them. I could not believe that someone could have such hatred for me and they did not even know me. The company had a seminar to do with racism. We were put into different groups.

This was very good because in the seminar we had to tell a little about ourselves. When these ladies heard I was Bermudian and where my playing ground use to be, this helped change the way they treated me a little bit.

I have been surprised also with people's reaction when I have offered them a lift into town or home. It was raining and I saw a young black Bermudian gentleman needing a ride into town. When I offered he got in and just laughed. I asked him what was so funny, he just looked at me and said, "You are a white woman'. I just looked back at him and said, "Ya, so your point is?"

He told me he thought he would have gotten a lift from a truck driver or at least a man, but not by me. I asked him if he was scared of me and then we just both laughed. I have also given a young black Bermudian lady a lift home, as I am sure we have all done at some point, because it was late in the evening and her boyfriend had been pulled over by the Police and she had no other way of getting home.

After being so long winded, I guess my point is what are we teaching our children at home? How are they being taught how to treat one another? We have so many different cultures here on the Island and so many different colour people. Why can't we all just get along as we all have to live with each other and we all have to deal with each other every day.

It is so bad or hard to treat each other with respect without looking at the skin colour, the job they work or the culture they are? What is wrong with us just being kind to one another and to stop judging the cover of the book first?

Rise to this challenge

Dear Sir,

I write both as a recent visitor and a former resident. Firstly, it is encouraging to find the Island in good shape particularly after Fabian and looking prepared for the forthcoming tourist season.

Secondly, however, I am disappointed that so much of the former military real estate is, still after eight years following the withdrawal, lying idle and unkempt. I would like to mention the former Royal Naval base in Dockyard where 'The Cottage', which had some M dollars spent on it as a temporary residence for The Governor, is still empty as well as other properties near the Dockyard. Surely it is now time to make a decision about this land and houses/offices that are waiting for redevopment both at Malabar, the USN Annex (where oil fuel tanks pose a cleaning problem) and CF Daniels Head.

Delapidation doesn't encourage tourism and Bermudians too should ask their MPs and WEDCO these questions, as Housing is a major topic of contention on the Island today. Thirdly, I would like to give an unusual challenge to Bermudians especially those with an artistic skill ? in the Dockyard are a large number of ship and submarine crests of many nations painted on the walls and sides of buildings ? many are now very shabby and urgently need a coat of paint.

It would be a pity if these fade away into oblivion as to my knowledge only Bermuda and Simonstown Dockyard in South Africa ever had these colourful crests. By giving them a new lease of life, they would remind the younger generation of the Island's history and also the tourists who ride pass these crests on the dockyard bus or on bikes, that Bermuda cares about its heritage.

Finally, congratulations to the Maritime Museum for its current exhibition in Commissioner's House ? Bermuda Defence Heritage ? an excellent display.