Sometimes the injection of a little bit of theory can be helpful in the real world struggle for human rights. The following is a Diversity Awareness Profile (author regrettably unknown to me), describing various players and their roles in perpetuating or diminishing ignorance and intolerance in their communities: Naive Offender -- Don't know they don't know. The Naive Offender is unaware of bias and prejudice.

Perpetuator -- Know they know but feel justified because of circumstances. The Perpetuator is aware of biases.

Avoider -- Know they know, and keep quiet. The Avoider is aware of biases and prejudices but tolerates unjust behaviours of others.

Change Agent -- Know they know and take steps to continue to learn. The Change Agent seeks to collaborate and discover allies.

Fighter -- Know they know, and make it hard for others to know. The Fighter sees bias and prejudice everywhere, and fails to recognise allies.

The Fighter is the focus of this article.

The Diversity Awareness Profile reveals that the Fighters are constantly aware of behaviour that seems to demonstrate prejudice or bias in some way. They rarely let the "offenders'' off without some form of confrontation.

Fighters attack real or imagined prejudice. They are on the lookout for discrimination. They help bring about change in many areas -- personal, community and business -- but often pay a high price, professionally and personally.

Fighters need to step back, slow down and take a break.

Fighters are often embroiled in controversy or a cause which soaks up time and energy, taking a negative toll over time.

The Fighter does not know when to quit and often acts spontaneously when thoughtfulness and a slower approach to the issue would be wiser.

Fighters get things done and can make lasting change, but are apt to burn out when they are needed the most. They often have trouble being an effective ally because they are too busy to find time to support an ally or to be supported.

Fighters rarely listen to anyone. They usually hear only the voices which motivate them to see injustice everywhere. They need to give people a fair chance and the benefit of the doubt. Their behaviour causes them to lose friends and allies who could be a source of comfort and solutions.

The Fighters involved in the race issue in Bermuda are easy to identify, as they tend to seek a high profile role in the debate. They often communicate their message in a pedantic fashion, claiming that anyone with a different vision just doesn't get it. One could possess the ideals of King, Mandela and Christ, and still be denounced. The Fighters would like to impose their rules of engagement on Bermuda, deeming who qualifies as an activist, who should have a voice, what political party should be supported. They would have Bermudians believe that to challenge the current Government is an act motivated by bigotry or Uncle Tomism, as opposed to a democratic right.

The Fighters feel they are the true leaders, the ones who belong in the history books. They appear to be oblivious to the quiet but vital role played out daily, without fanfare, by thousands of good Bermudians who strive to make the Island a better place for all.

Due to the single-mindedness of Bermuda's Fighters, issues such as the environment, freedom of information, equal rights for gays and lesbians and so on, are allowed to languish on the back-burner.

While some of the Fighters may have helped over the years to wrench people from their comfort zones, to confront the very real racism in Bermuda society, their form of leadership is now anachronistic and vindictive. Where there should be team building, they often preach division. Where there should be the pursuit of awareness and understanding, they appear to seek revenge.

The goal of human equality could be furthered if our Fighters would come in from the cold, recognising that the battle can be won, without the constant barrage of verbal gunfire that causes untold collateral damage to the Bermuda of today and tomorrow.