LOL

Part of the disgust some of us feel toward the PLP’s tenure is, as Dr. Eva has already made mention of in another setting, their striving after UBP ideals instead of remaining true to the ideals upon which the party was originally founded. Your frequently repeated comment that they, the PLP, have failed because they are a Labour government and no labour government can govern successfully (not a direct quote, just my understanding of your comments), doesn’t take into consideration the fact that the PLP has not governed as a labour government at all. They have tried to govern as a very poor reflection of the UBP government. This is why they have frequently been heard to say, “well, THEY did it” when brought to task over some blatantly unfair or unethical practice. You see, many of us remain convinced there was skulduggery during the UBP’s tenure, they were just more skilled at hiding it.

what does all that have to do with the topic at hand? I am one of those black persons who cannot bring myself to vote UBP. I have a very long memory and despite Sir Henry Tucker being touted as the architect of universal suffrage, I remember when he stated it would happen ‘over his dead body.’ I remember when sterilization of blacks was an actual discussion point; when blacks were advised to limit their offspring and whites were requested to reproduce; when the British and Canadians were encouraged to come and were enabled to vote in order to retain political power in the hands of white people; when districts were gerrymandered to retain political power in the hands of white people. I could go on, but maybe you get the point. I do not trust that, given a chance, we would not be right back in those straits. That is how I interpret ‘back on the plantation.’ Intellectually, I know that the UBP was about capitalism, which was why people like Sir John Swan made out so well. But you have to have money, or at least understand how finance works in order to thrive under such a regime. Many black people don’t have that background – yes there are some that do, but for a lot of us, budgeting and making canny financial decisions are not what our parents taught us. So the race question is inextricably linked with the financial/business issue. both need to be addressed. And yes, white people WILL feel uncomfortable. Many black people will feel uncomfortable too. The topic is uncomfortable, but it is one of the elephants in the middle of the room and for too long, we have pretended it is invisible.
For the record, I hate it that my own – and yes I think of the PLP as my own – betrayed my trust. So I am in an unenviable position. I don’t want either of the old parties. I am watching the OBA closely, but at heart, I don’t believe any party can succeed in changing an historically divisive dynamic such as the Westminster system. It might work if we were an homogeneous society, as Britain was, but we are so very far from that.

I don’t consider myself to be racist, but like most Bermudians, I am acutely aware of race. There is a difference. I was brought up in a home where all kinds of folk were made welcome, so I am comfortable around those whose skin doesn’t look like mine. Like many of the younger generation, I attended school with white folks so I know they are human just like me, with similar feelings and issues. Many of my friends did not have the same experiences and do not feel that universal kinship. Yet and still, my white friends will never understand certain things about my world view, and some still struggle to understand what ‘white privilege’ is all about. White folks who do understand it need to spend some time educating their own. It could only help.

In all these areas blacks have spoken bad about whites since 1609? Or could there be another reason for the segregation by whites? Let’s hear from a white person ready to tell the truth for once…

@ Mr. Ashford, I don’t think there is space here on this thread to write in-depth my thoughts as per your questions. I have been meaning to write a piece on my blog on the very topic of racism, in particular looking at the differences of personal and structural racism. I will attempt to include your particular questions in it as well. I hope to have it written and published with the early days of the New Year (just depends on having the free time to do so).

I do think the PLP has, to a degree, played the race card, but I equally believe the UBP has played the race card also. They just did it much more subtlely, in a way that, to many Whites, they didn’t even realise what they were doing (although no doubt the core initial architects were fully aware of it) in as much as their candidate slate was majority Black while their membership and support base were majority White. There are other elements of their playing the race card but that was perhaps the most glaringly obvious.

I think there is some degree of semantic dissonance between White and Black speech in some regards here, a degree of code switching if you will. I don’t dispute that some of the language used has been inflammatory, and some members have been completely out in left field so to speak. But no, I don’t think it truly constitutes any organised attempt by the PLP to actively repulse or abuse Whites, but rather to articulate their lived perceptions and experiences in a way that is understood by their base and in the minimum of words. I think White reaction has been largely hysterical and based on misunderstandings than anything else, as well as latching onto additional justifications for their own actions.

The question of whether the PLP is, or isn’t, ‘organisationally racist’ (as you put it), or the degree to whether Whites are racist (in as much as they oppose active correction of structural racism, not in personal racism towards non-Whites), is a very much separate question from whether or not I think the PLP as government needs replaced or not. I actually think they do. I just don’t think the OBA are a messiah or will do any better than them. So, I don’t really have anyone to support in the next election, at least not at the current rate.

I’m heading out to dinner, but will come back to the other questions if I don’t drink too much!

Happy New Year

Only blacks in Bermuda switch their votes from election to election. On this basis they can not be accused of voting on racial lines – they sometimes vote UBP and somtimes PLP – please do not ignore facts when you post.

I find it intriguing that you as a white Saltus Educated Individual find it so challenging to wake up and recognize organizational racism when you see it and accordingly condone it. Are you trying to tell me that the PLP has not exploited the race card during elections historically? Does doing so not indicate condoned organizational racism? Do you think that the likes of Laverne Furbert, Rolfee and others is NOT racism? Please assist us all here – give your definition of racism….. You seem to be unaware that people of all races can have prejudices and racial biases. Do you think this is a disease shared only by the white community? You talk of fundamentals but clearly havent yet grasped them at all. This government has failed us. They need to be changed – if you havent yet seen that you need to put the koolaid down and wake up my friend.

-Noel

First, it seems to me that the only real difference between now and then, PLP vs UBP, is that people are more outspoken about racial issues. Under the UBP government, the racism was subversive but pervasive. I still remember the h@ll Dr. Barbara Ball, Dorothy Thompson and David Allen had to deal with as white members of the PLP (and the Union) from their white counterparts. They were considered to be race traitors. Dorothy Thompson was a personal friend of my mother’s so I was very much aware of her plight. She was made to suffer economically as well as being denied her pension here. She died a pauper in England, despite being a well-educated, hard working woman. There were rumours of white folks whose mortgages and jobs were threatened if they joined the PLP. I don’t know that for absolute fact but there are those who could corroborate my statements. I’m sure it is at least as true as the rumours about Dr. Brown’s “unethical” behaviour. For sure, true or not, such threats were a very effective deterrent for other white people who might have joined the PLP back then.

Personally, I don’t know which is worse, overt or covert racism. At least with overt racism, you know where you stand. However, I will admit, the present situation smacks very strongly of the old children’s taunts – “take you dat!” and “I got you back!” It probably should have been expected. Tit for tat is a common and human response. I just wish we could have taken the high road, the truly Christian stance. However, Liberia (where ex-slaves from the US returned to Africa and in turn, enslaved the indigenous Africans) is a good example of outward change without inward growth, and we seem to have followed their example, in a manner of speaking.

It is time for us to begin to mature. One very positive step would be to do away with the Westminster system, as several have suggested. It perpetuates the win/lose dynamic. Now that we all have had a taste of negative reciprocity, maybe we can actually make a no-party system work. Each member of Parliament works for the betterment of her/his constituents and the island as a whole. Yes, alliances will form, but generally only for the duration of a particular issue. As the issues change, new alliances will form, and parliamentarians will be forced to work together in order to get their agendas through the House. Instead of voting on party lines and being subject to a party whip, people will vote their conscience, which can’t be all bad. It works in Guernsey. Maybe we should check it out. I know there are some here who have studied their system of government, most notably Stuart Hayward. One thing for sure, it is insane to expect something different and positve to arise out of repeating the same methods for governance.

To the person who mentioned PLP’s apparent homophobia, the fight for human rights for gay people has been going on for at least 15 years. The Stubb’s Bill which passed and then was rescinded, took place during the UBP’s tenure. Black folks aren’t the only homophobes on this little rock.

I do not agree that the only way to make a change in the racist environment is through the economy. Economic empowerment is important but the real change comes from within each of us.

However, for a large number of black voters, the PLP is the only choice because they will not vote UBP/OBA regardless of the cost. Despite the harm the PLP have inflicted on this island, many black voters will still vote PLP. hmmmmmmm thinks this is a reasonable stance based on history and, to be fair to him/her, it’s a valid discussion point.

However the analysis, therefore, must conclude that it’s actually black voters who vote on racial lines.

How can they say we are drinking koolaid, the uneducated vote and whatever other words they use to label us because we vote for the PLP but they turn around and vote for any party other then the PLP..Just doesnt make sense..

Voting along racial lines for an inferior “product” in order to prevent a mythical return to a metaphorical plantation is misguided. You would rather see the island sink into desperation and third world status.

I can tell you, and Kim Swan if he’s still reading, that most whites of my generation don’t vote PLP becasue they are a “black party” but because they are incompetent.

i will tell you where this island is going, and thats no where. how is it that grown men and women still talk about racism? its in the past, we are no longer subjected to menial labor as a result of the colour of our skin. the only racism that exists now has been created, and why? what reason to we have to cry out black and white?

the political parties are just as bad to pull colour into it just for their votes – but those who eat it up are just as stupid.

i don’t care about politics because of this foolishness. but what i can tell you is this, the term ni**er was offensive to our ancestors because it means “ignorant” not black. they refused to be acknowledged as an ignorant race because of the colour of their skin. low and behold here we are today; decades after they fought for freedom we have purposely reduced ourselves to what we once hated. 99.9% of these comments are ignorance. which ever party you choose will screw you because you’re too busy looking at colour to know the difference.

23 year old black woman…

But as stated elsewhere, much rather have incompetents than white folk.

“The point is lost because the writer, at the very end, essentially tells us that it’s better to have incompetent fools running the country as long as they are black and not white. A plantation comment if ever there was one.

I stand by my comment.”

Sincerely a white man who loves and respects all and can’t wait for everyone to get along. Nuff respect

Ps I can’t find work either (so lame and frustrating)W

Firstly thank you for your contribution of time and effort to Bermuda and her people. It is definitely appreciated.

In regards to the quote you noted above I personally do not think that any right minded person at this point in time would bet against the PLP winning the next election and beyond. A poll is just a poll.

When it comes down to the actual event (i.e. election) all Bermudians (black and white) will do exactly what you are seeking to abolish. It is too heavily ingrained in oir society and only a strong and unifying indivudal, as a leader, will break that trend.

Until then this is what we have and it will never end.

What does the Govt have to do with that? Start your own businesses so you don’t have to give the white people anymore of your hard earned dollars?

Why do you expect this or any Govt to give you these opportunities?

Do it yourself instead of waiting for someone to do it for you.

Putting words in my mouth (i.e. you hate this etc) is no different then actual racially inflammatory words being spewed by a politician for political gain at the expense of the society as whole.

Well lgoing off your bullet points below and your other posts it is quite obvious that you hate white people yourself. I mean if one sentence in the hundreds I have posted today can be construed as hate then obviously your posts evidence a flaming hatred for yourself and all white people.

Not a problem. I don’t have them on this computer but I will do so when I have access to the proper machine. Also, I shouldn’t have stated platforms, as no political party would ever put an anti-whatever race stance in their platforms. What I have read are majority speeches and interviews with the original PLP founding members in which a strong anti-white theme was presented. As I mentioned previously those were much different times and such attitudes were much much more understandable and justifiable. It is the fact that during the 2007 election and up until recently that such nonsense is still spewed is unacceptable and does nothing to better our society as a whole.

But, in all honesty, if you believe that the remarks I have noted in my previous posts and were discussed on your own website at length as not being racial stereotyping and digs at whites, then I am not too sure what good presenting these quotes would be to you. If you justify such nastiness in 2011 I can only imagine what you would say about the quotes emanating from the ’60s.