“The majority” is not affected by marriage equality.

People shouldn’t have to leave their own home in order to get married, ESPECIALLY because it’s legal here.

Our beliefs are those of equality and fairness. Just because you are a bigot on this subject doesn’t mean the rest of us are.

Would you care to give one single reason we should support this bill? One that you’re willing to defend?

Or are you going to continue hiding behind the hood of anonymity, spreading your message of hate?

According to the law of this land, as per the ruling, equal access to marriage IS a right.

You are wrong.

On original topic, there seems to also be a sentiment in some quarters that the UK is perfectly willing to throw the OTs under a bus as far as the offshore/taxation drama is concerned, which may make people wonder if they’re getting a good deal currently

Most of it is nonsense you made up. The whole “Greece and Rome” thing is gibberish. There is no way you can back that up with a shred of evidence.

Why can you not just be honest? Why do you have to spread lies in order to promote your position?

In terms of your two arguments, can you list what trade deals little old Bermuda would be able to negotiate that would provide us with greater benefits then we already have now? Do you honestly think we produce anything of value that would have any other larger countries running to our door to enact a trade deal with us? We don’t produce a thing to export. So as you noted the rebuttals for such a claim is quite easy to produce. Also, I am not aware of the UK ever interjecting themselves, in modern day terms, to reverse any Government instituted policy.

I never labelled all independence supporters of being easily swayed by emotions. I stated that every time I ask the question of ‘why independence’ the answers provided from the individuals I have asked have been purely emotional. I am sure there are some non-emotional legitimate answers, but I have yet to hear them up until this point. But my favorite one was from a few years back when the answer was that our football team will play better because they will have some national pride.

Yes, each item can probably be given an adequate rebuttal, but let’s not just start labelling those who are for independence as just swayed by emotion and a desire to merely have a new flag and anthem or whatnot. Besides, there’s nothing inherently wrong with wanting independence for emotional reasons; there are some Bermudians who simply love the Queen and royalty – nobody’s labelled them as swayed by emotion. But practicality should be the main thing here.

It was always meant to be a publicity stunt. Fact.

The was a Bermuda Independence Commission created back in the 2000′s.

There was no real benefit to independence.

Seriously….

Eron, you can’t possibly be for independence while simultaneously benefiting from being dependent.

Outside of just your education, there are so many opportunities for Bermudian university students to obtain internship in the UK because of dependence as well.

Think of those who want to escape gang life because of being in constant fear of their lives? Where are they going to go if they can’t escape Bermuda?

6 feet under, that’s where.

Just look at Minister Simmons’ reply to a query at an IB forum late last year when one of the attendees queried him on the PLP’s desire for Bermuda to go independent (this was after a PLP Senator’s public cry for independence). These firms pay very close attention to such mutterings. And I can tell you first hand the majority have a contingency plan (ie where to move to next) in place if Bermuda does decide to go down that route.

Why do you think those three islands are able to attract the quantity of international business as compared to the independent islands? It’s not just a coincidence. There is a misconception that Bermuda is simply attractive to such investors because of our pink sand and blue waters.

I have asked many people to provide three ‘real’ (not emotional) benefits that Bermuda will experience by cutting ties with the UK. Not one has been able to provide a non-emotional response to date. What will get better for Bermuda and her people by going it alone? Either we we are in no financial position to do so anyways.

As for an inquiry into displaced people in Bermuda, personally I was looking forward to an inquiry into the displacement of people from Tucker’s Town (said to be for the betterment of Bermuda) and also in relation to those displaced from Long Bird Island (in order to create Kindley Field Air Force base).

You cannot inquire into one without inquiring into the other if the goal is the truth rather than a pre-ordained conclusion, in which case such an inquiry would be a waste of time and money.

There was no intervention from the UK. None at all. They spoke about it. Said they were displeased with it. But in the end are letting our Government do what they want.

Why go independent when there is absolutely nothing to gain but other things to lose?

1a. Is any overseas “territory” truly “self-governed”?

1b. If we are already “self-governed” then why would the “economic pillar” lose faith in our already “fragile economy” if we fully separate from the UK? Is this about ownership or representation?

2a. Is Marriage a human right? Or is it just a religious thing that is recognized legally?

2b. Is a Domestic partnership basically a legal union without the religious part?

2c. If Marriage is not required to be a religious thing, why not re-label all non-religious but legally recognized straight marriages as domestic-partnerships?

3a. If I’m a gay/lesbian Christian (yes there are plenty) and I want to get married, is my intended union inherently both a religious and a legal thing? Being gay does not make you non-religious or non-Christian…

3b. Or if I’m a gay/lesbian Christian and I choose to recognize homosexuality as sin, but I still want the legal/financial benefits of a marriage, do I then opt for a Domestic Partnership instead?

Funny how Eron Hill takes advantage of subsidized education in the UK and at the same time is implying the UK needs to mind it’s own business. You can’t have your cake and eat it too! Something he’ll learn once he gets into the real world.

How would this young man like it if we start rolling back all the equality that has been fought for in the 20th century?

But somehow he’s fine with an unelected foreign pastor on a work permit publically expressing views, holding marches and marches, directly meddling in Bermuda’s affairs, and whipping up public opinion in Bermuda on things settled by the democratically elected government of Bermuda.

You see the problem Mr Hill?

I wonder how many people in Bermuda would view it as a “satisfactory compromise” if equality for women or the disabled or people other than Caucasians was rolled back because a vocal minority demanded it?

Human rights should be enjoyed by all “humans” or none at all.

Go ahead and rock that boat and create some more instability and watch this already fragile economy shatter to pieces. Because if you think for one minute that our one economic pillar will stay around to see if a post-independent Bermuda is a place they wish to remain domiciled then you are kidding yourselves.

Pride always comes before the fall.