Bermudians seem to feel a “mild indifference” towards abstract ideas such as Independence whereas issues closer to home - such as the “internal colonialism” of racism - strike powerful chords on the Island, a forum at the Bermuda Industrial Union heard last night.

The forum audience saw a perfect demonstration of that phenomenon when former PLP Senator Calvin Smith lost his temper with a white audience member who questioned remarks he made in Tuesday's Royal Gazette, while the supposedly thorny issue of Independence raised barely an eyebrow.

Members of the panel at the forum had already expressed the view that Bermudians are less than passionate about the issue before the white audience member spoke.

AT&T executive Chris Smith spoke about Independence from the view of the youth, saying younger generations were less concerned with the issue than older generations who still remembered the days of colonialism.

However, he added, most Bermudians are concerned with what is happening here and now - affordable housing, violence among Bermuda's children, crime, and so on - than they are with Independence.

And Dr. Eva Hodgson similarly noted that she herself feels a “mild indifference” towards independence, and is far more concerned with racism, or “internal colonialism”.

Former Environment Minister Arthur Hodgson, though saying he felt Independence was a “natural progression”, also felt Bermudians needed to make some internal alterations before making such a move, saying that if everyone is not on board and trusting one another, the process must be slowed down until they are.

And Dr. Pauulu Kamarakafego (formerly called Dr. Roosevelt Brown), while offering different ideas as to the route Bermuda could take as an independent nation on the world stage, noted that Bermudians stand apart in their ability to listen to one another instead of resorting to violent political clashes.

But when it came time for questions from the floor tempers rose as a white audience member questioned Mr. Smith about his statements to the Press about Independence in yesterday's newspaper.

Asking if he had been misquoted when he said: “If white people don't wake up and get on board this could end with racial hostility,” the man asked what exactly he was supposed to get on board with.

“We don't have the facts,” he said, adding it was a “fabrication” to say white people were not on board.

The man also noted he was insulted when Chris Smith told the forum he only spoke to “one worthwhile white person” when preparing what he would say at the forum, despite the fact that he and Mr. Smith are friends.

However, “You didn't go through it,” Calvin Smith said, losing his temper with the man and calling his comments a “stupid statement”, though immediately apologising.

Though Mr. Hodgson attempted to smooth the matter over, a black audience member also rose to yell at the white member, saying that if he said another word: “He's got to go”.

Panel members themselves had a hard time staying on Independence, with Mr. Hodgson straying into Government's use of the land and Dr. Hodgson voicing her opinions on Jennifer Smith's leadership of the PLP and her own feeling as a victim of racism.

Mr. Hodgson said if leaders had a sense where people were going, and that was towards Independence, the matter would come about smoothly.

But “if we are all over the place”, he said, “we have to slow down”.