Taking on white privilege

April 26, 2007

Dear Sir,

“In any struggle to end a system of oppression, those on the bottom of the hierarchy have an obvious motivation to resist the system: to remove from their lives the source of the oppression. But what of those of us on top of the hierarchy? In the arena of race, what about us white people? What might motivate us to act for social change?”

“The Heart of Whiteness — Confronting Race, Racism, and White Privilege”— Robert Jensen

In the Friday, April 20, 2007 edition of the Royal Gazette, there was an article entitled, “Former Premier puts donors’ money — and his — just where it’s needed.” I asked myself, “Why couldn’t the headlines have read, ‘Former Educator puts her money just where it’s needed?”

Suddenly, I had some very painful flashbacks as I remembered that the Former Premier and I both returned to Bermuda with Ph.D.’s. The Former Premier was privileged to be commissioned to do an inquiry into the Bermuda Education System. Then, he was appointed to the position of Permanent Secretary of Education. After this he received another high-level position at Fidelity Management. Eventually, he entered the field of politics and was successful in becoming the Premier of this country.

Why was he so successful on his return to his homeland? Why I, on the other hand, in spite of my competencies, skills and abilities, coupled with experience, exposure and expertise, have never been able to secure a position in my field of endeavour? It was because of White Privilege.

Dr. Robert Jensen, in his book, “The Heart of Whiteness —Confronting Race, Racism and White Privilege,” provided me with the answer.

What is White Privilege?

1. White privilege, like any social phenomenon, is complex. In a white-supremacist society, (Bermuda), all white people have some sort of privilege in some settings.

2. What is a part of white privilege?

a) It is the privilege to ignore the reality of a white-supremacist society when it makes whites uncomfortable.

b) It is the privilege to rationalise why white privilege is not really so bad.

c) It is the privilege to deny one’s own role in it.

d) It is the privilege of remaining ignorant because that ignorance is protected.

Was the Former Premier privileged in being commissioned to carry out the inquiry into education? Would this commission have also given him privilege and entitlement when he applied for the job of Permanent Secretary of Education?

Interesting enough, several years later, I sent three Former Premiers letters outlining my plight to them. This was accompanied by copies of my book entitled, “Let Justice Flow — A Black Woman’s Struggle for Equality in Bermuda.”

I was na|0xef|ve. I thought the Former Premiers, the leaders of the country, were interested in my welfare as a Bermudian. Weren’t they paid out of the taxpayers’ money to work on behalf of Bermudians? What did one Former Premier do? He insulted me by sending back the copy of my book.

Why shouldn’t I, a woman of African descent, have dreams too? I was not privileged. Consequently, I cannot donate $20,000 to the Somerset Long Bay East Nature Reserve. Since I am not privileged, my dreams for providing scholarships to children of single parents or helping to educate orphans in Africa, are not only dreams deferred, but they are dreams that are dried up like raisins in the sun.

Bermudians, of African descent, we cannot stand idly by and let this “white privilege” continue. We must confront it on every hand.

Confronting White Privilege in Bermuda,

MURIEL M. WADE-SMITH, Ph.D.

Smith’s Parish

Our roads are a danger

April 26, 2007

Dear Sir,

Following Jon Brunson’s comments regarding the decaying roads now menacing Bermuda’s motorists, it surely must be time to privatise all road resurfacing.

The 2006 statistic showing only 2.5 miles of roads were resurfaced is a damning statistic. Considering the heavy equipment Work and Engineering posses, including a brand new tarmac plant, they should be relaying at least 15 miles per year. The roads are a nuisance and a danger, and someone will pay with their life.

FED UP ROAD USER

City of Hamilton

Camera lost in melee

April 29, 2007

Dear Sir,

I arrived in Bermuda last Wednesday excited about the opportunity to enjoy a holiday. The first thing I attended was Harbour Night. What a great time we were having when suddenly I was under the Horse Carriage. When the Carriage was lifted I found myself being pulled out and have since discovered that my angel that night was Irene Walbaum. I will be forever grateful to her for her medical skill and that she stayed with me until the Ambulance Attendants arrived and took control.

A big thank you is owed to each and everyone who was involved in making sure that the injured were well looked after. From the moment I arrived at the hospital, I received only the very best care and attention. Dr. Edward Schultz was such a calming and caring person (and did a very good sewing job). All of the staff who were working that night were excellent and will not soon be forgotten. The visits by Government Officials and others was very much appreciated. Another thank you goes to Diane Gordon of the Chamber of Commerce for her frequent phone calls to make sure that I am doing okay.

Bermuda is a beautiful country and I AM enjoying my holiday here. My only wish is that I had the pictures that were on my camera that was lost in the confusion. If anyone happened to have picked it up, I would really like to have it . It was a Canon Brand digital camera with lots of Gombey pictures on it.

Again, thank you to the many folk who have phoned, prayed and showed your concern for me. I am doing great and I WILL come back.

ERIN WILSON

Canada

Care for our horses

April 27, 2007

Dear SirI am writing with reference to the recent tragedy that occurred on the evening of April 25 at the first Harbour nights. Arriving at the festivities shortly after the incident occurred, I can only liken the scene to that of something we see on the TV from Beirut. It was really a horrible sight and I am thankful that my infant son and I were running late and were not caught in the melee.

I fully believe that the horse and carriages are a part of Bermuda tradition and are for the most part a beautiful sight to behold. However times they have changed and we really need to assess whether Front Street is a suitable place for them. I personally think not, it is way too congested in Hamilton for these creatures to be spending their days. We have had much debate on the issue of congestion in the local papers of late and what the government plans to do to resolve the issue, the carriages too add to the problem. Not only congestion but the heat is a pressing issue. It is inhumane to expect these animals to pull people around Hamilton in the heat of the summer through the congested streets breathing all of the toxic fumes. These issues are just the tip of the iceberg so to speak. Safety should be our number 1 priority not only for the animals but also our much valued visitors. Our current government are going to great lengths to try to revive our tourism industry the last thing we need is to have the safety of our visitors and for that matter locals jeopardised by a runaway team of horses. Let’s face it, this is not the first accident involving horse and carriages although it is certainly the worst. Maybe we should view this as a wake up call.

It may be a good idea to limit the hours the horses are working in Hamilton to after 6 p.m. only. Personally I would like to see them reserved for weddings and private functions only. I do realise that people need to make a living, although there is no shortage of jobs here, housing yes, employment NO. There is also the issue of what will become of these animals if their operators are no longer able to ply their trade? Let’s face it these animals are not pets they are being exploited for the money they make and boy do they make money, believe me they make big money.

I know because I have been there and done that, having hacked the carriage myself for the better part of ten years the majority of times in the evening. There were a lot of issues that brought me to the decision to quit driving the carriage, the most pressing being the oppressive heat and the obvious distress the horses face while working in these congested conditions. They cannot tell us when they are thirsty, hungry, tired or if their bodies ache we can only observe them and hope we are doing what’s best for them. That is if their operator is conscientious, they are totally at our mercy.

I truly hope the Government and Corporation of Hamilton will seriously review the situation and make the right decision for the welfare of all, especially for those who cannot speak for themselves.

SAMANTHA HAYWARD

Pembroke

Some explanation, please

April 26, 2007

Dear Sir,

The question must be asked: Is Dr. Brown engineering his own “need” for security? The man who approached him at the airport made no threatening moves and yet was moved away from Ewart? He was somehow “found” to have a boxcutter (9/11 terrorist association). Why was he searched? Why was the man never charged with an offence? Ewart then used this to justify increased security? There is something wrong with this picture. Some people have suggested that it was a setup. I cannot believe he would do so shallow a thing. I think there must be another explanation.

The next question is, why does HE suddenly need security? Alex and Jennifer and David (Saul, remember him?) held office not that long ago. Why the sudden change? It seems that a lot of people must hate him. But that could not be so. He is beloved by all. There must be another explanation.

Please let the public send letters if they have an explanation.

Diogenes II

Devonshire

Save our greenery

April 27, 2007

Dear Sir,

How depressing that developer Mr. Christensen simply doesn’t get it. He doesn’t understand, or care, that the matter of ‘national importance’, is the preservation of Bermuda’s rapidly disappearing green, wooded lands. Southlands is one of the last areas in Bermuda of its size — when it is gone, we won’t have anything left to take its place. It will be gone forever.

We are told that there are three, principal investors in the destruction of Southlands. Mr. Christensen, Mr. Nelson Hunt and Mr. Brian Duperreault. The latter has a well-publicised reputation — reportedly a man of intelligence and integrity. He certainly has more than enough personal wealth to last a number of people a number of lifetimes. How does he, in all conscience, explain his involvement in this destructive project?

Throughout the world, scientists, environmentalists, climatologists and academics generally, are arriving at the same conclusions regarding climate change and the environment. Governments and citizens of small island countries are being advised, in the strongest terms, to preserve what green spaces are left. They are not saying we ‘should’ do this, they are saying we ‘MUST’ do this. They tell us to build on Brown Sites — to never use ‘Green Sites’.

Here in Bermuda, study after study, expert after expert have told us repeatedly that the mega hotels are not the way to go. Smaller hotel properties make much more sense and, this too, has been proved in the past. Also, we have more than enough ‘Brown Sites’ upon which to build.

It is our responsibility to stop this project and others like it. Governments come and go — politicians hide behind their ministries, but it’s going to be us who have to answer to future generations. It’s going to be all of us living in a congested, noisy Hong Kong style environment, searching in vain for an open patch of green land.

There are ways and means in which the investors of Southlands can be compensated for the value of their property. And, it is possible for the people of Bermuda, through Government and the private/public sectors, to buy it back for the benefit of us all. All it takes is for us to tell Government, and each other, in no uncertain terms, that this is what we want — how hard is that POPULIST IN PAGET<$>Erwin deserved better April 9, 2007Dear Sir, I am appalled at how the United Bermuda Party has treated my friend Erwin Adderley. Erwin has been a loyal, dedicated servant for the people of Pembroke West and this is the thanks he gets. First he is replaced by Jamahl Simmons who cared more about people who looked like him (to borrow a phrase from the PLP) and now according to the article published recently in The Royal Gaze<$>Shawn Crockwell will be running in the next election.

Erwin is a hardworking and honest representative of what the UBP used to and should still stand for. The selection of Mr.Crockwell is a step backwards from the standards of which we are accustomed. Erwin understands the people of Pembroke West and has a proven track record of representing our interest. I am urging the new opposition leader Michael Dunkley to review this most unfortunate decision and do what is in the best interest of the party and the country.

WORRIED UBP SUPPORTER

Pembroke

Attack showed ignorance

April 23, 2007

Dear Sir,

In response to Mr. Neville T. Darrell’s slanderous attack on Mrs. Louise Jackson!

If Mr. Darrell was to take five minutes to actually investigate the History of the Jackson School of Performing Arts before he attempted to DISCREDIT Mrs. Louise Jackson integrity and her contributions to our community he surely would not have issued such slanderous remarks.

In the many years that I have known Mrs. Jackson I cannot think of any one individual that has contributed more monies and time to the development of many of our young people.

If Mr. Darrell was to attend any one of the Prize Presentations held annually for the past fifty(50) years he would have witnessed with his own eyes the generosity of this woman and her contributions.

It’s amazing what people will say to gain political favours!

Mr. Darrell you owe Mrs. Jackson a very sincere apolo

BOB LEGERE

President, The Jackson School of Performing Arts

Only qualified need apply

April 27, 2007

Dear Sir,

Whilst the PLP are using an independent research firm to help them choose candidates by polling constituencies ahead of the next general election, I can offer some free advice.

When candidates put their names forward for consideration, they should do so with their curriculum vitae, highlighting their credentials, accomplishments, and strengths etc. and give a synopsis of how they would be best suited for whatever Ministry they feel they would complement.

However, only qualified candidates should be short-listed just as you would a regular job applicant, especially since the salaries for Ministers have increased considerably, and the positions are now classified as full-time jobs. This would eliminate Ministers being placed in Ministries totally unfamiliar to them, and they would feel more comfortable and prepared answering any queries from the press/media at any given time, thus relying less upon prepared statements.

This would also eliminate the need for any research firm to aid them in their decision making process, not to mention the constant reshuffling of Ministers. The public would also feel that they are being represented by some of the best that Bermuda has to offer.

J. CAINES

Devonshire