Friday, December 25, 2009

“It is perhaps a more fortunate destiny to have a taste for collecting shells than to be born a millionaire” - Robert Louis Stevenson



We must find a way. We must have a plan. We must break that which is broken, break it completely so that it can not ever be resurrected, for we know now that what is broken should not continue to be used. We must forge a new path, as those before us who believed in manifest destiny...

We must be thankful for where we are and how we came to be, we must be a government of one people, undaunted, undivided. We must love the aged and the young, their contributions mean so much. We must educate and be educated, to stop learning is to stop living, for we are here on planet earth for a reason, to be great, each and every day.

We must grow more food, we must drive less, we must find ways to save our world, to save our people. We must make less war, and make more love, for there can be nothing better than love. We must cry more, laugh more. We must give more and take less. We must take pride in our accomplishments and strive to be better every day. We must find cures for the plagues that affect us. We must plant more trees and build less skyscrapers, we must use less and recycle more. We must seek less from God, and take responsibility for our people and our world. We must remove barriers and build bridges, we must invite more and not wait to be invited, we must work harder and celebrate less.

We must smile more, for we know that in the smile of a child there is nothing more precious or beautiful. We must accept that we are not perfect and that it is ok. We must develop relationships based on friendships without expectation or demand. We need less in our banks and more in our hearts. We must show our future generations that there is hope and that together we can achieve much, alone we achieve little.

One hope for all at this time of year... that we have learned from our mistakes, that we can move beyond hate and learn to appreciate the gifts we have. Move with love in your heart and we will all move mountains.

Monday, December 7, 2009

"Today, more than ever before, life must be characterized by a sense of Universal responsibility, not only nation to nation and human to human, but also human to other forms of life." - Dalai Lama


The past month has been really hectic and I haven't had much time to gather my thoughts, but hopefully with the year winding down, I have found some moments for reflection, meditation and growth. Our world is so much smaller now and if we let it spin out of control we can easily lose sight of the important things.

With so much negative press surrounding events both local and foreign, and most of it negative, I'm going to take a few words to give props, where props are due. Funny isn't it we often hear how the media reads off the Police blotter every day, as if they are afraid to report "good" news. Are we so obsessed with negativity (and there is enough to report) that we can not celebrate some successes?

Congrats go out to Somerset School of Dance for their bi-annual performance held at the Ruth Seaton James auditorium at the end of November. I know a lot of parents at the school would love to see their kids dance more, I know how much I love watching my daughter dance, but credit to Sal Hodgson for making her school more than just a place to go for recitals. The RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) curriculum is one of the leading ballet methods in the world, and it's a bonus to know that all of her students pass their examinations with flying colors. It doesn't get reported on the news, but it's the truth.

As most will know, I am far from a supporter of the queen, but I am glad she came. There is some kind of magic with her that draws people from far and wide, and while I didn't take the opportunity to go out and see her, I am not the least bit surprised by the turnout. The premier alluded to the idea that we shouldn't read anything into her popularity as it regards independence and I tend to agree, but I don't think it was really necessary to come out and say that. Enjoy the moment, and know that we can allow for a moment of pomp and circumstance.

This past weekend I was proud to join the CURB table at the "Global Village" in Par-La-Ville Park. I gather the major sponsors are Chewstick, and I was really impressed with the social activism that was displayed by so many of the islands different groups. I will always preach the importance of being active, it is so important for our communities, and ultimately our country, that people care. If we can take the energy of the "Global Village" and unite to tackle some of our social ills, I'm certain we can move mountains.

Christmas is a time of year when we spend time with family and friends, and Bermuda has it's own set of traditions, that makes our country a great place to be. It's a great time of year, and I hope everyone takes a moment to move away from the negativity that is constantly beaten into our social media, and our regular media to embrace the season. Hug your kids, love your families and love one another people, for we are truly worth it.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Introducing.... The Alliance!

“One man may hit the mark, another blunder; but heed not these distinctions. Only from the alliance of the one, working with and through the other, are great things born.” -

Antoine de Saint-Exupery


Alliance: a merging of efforts or interests by persons, families, states, or organizations: an alliance between church and state. (dictionary.com)

I don't profess to be a genius here, but the BDA (Bermuda Democratic Alliance) are who exactly? Disgruntled former members of the UBP? Allied with whom? Are we awaiting defections from across the floor to complete this historic group?

Ok... it's early days yet. The third option has emerged and before HMS United Bermuda Party is well and truly left to the fishes, we must say this. The third option at this point seems to be truly only a rehashed version of the second option, if said second option is the opposition. I'm not sure if said opposition would be the first option, I would hope not, but if you define power in terms of rankings, then the first option would definitely be the government... wouldn't it?

Never mind. This "Alliance"... don't we just love vague labels for political parties? ... what exactly is it? A Democratic Alliance - thank god it's a democratic alliance and not a communist or worse a socialist alliance, for we can't have radicals running around now can we? - made up of former UBP MP's that have left the UBP. Hey... wait a minute here.... if I voted party lines and one of these MP's is my MP and I voted for them under the UBP flag, does that mean I have to change political parties too? My head hurts.

I know...I know... it's early days yet. We may have influential government members jumping on board the Alliance bandwagon. Mr. Perinchief? Mr. Horton? Mr. James? I know... Mr. Butler.... wow... I'm not convinced. Maybe the Alliance can pick up Ashfield Devent... if they put legalization on their platform. Ok... maybe the Alliance will be made up of the former UBP MP's and a few independent thinkers, whoa!!! Not Independence thinkers... INDEPENDENT thinkers! We'll have none of that Independence stuff around here.

Oh and that platform thing. Yeah, it's early days yet, but these former UBP mp's need to get a platform thing. Separate themselves from the UBP, you know be different, be a true third option... or second option... or first option... or no option if you don't think that they are an alliance at all... like me... just a few disgruntled former UBP MP's trying to be an option. Dad always said... if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, then it's more than likely... A DUCK!!!

Good luck... I'll take Captain America as my MP.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Why I blog...

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own." - Cesar Chavez



I decided several months ago to "out" myself. Ok... I'm not "out" in that way. I'm out by exposing myself on my blog. It is a decision I'm proud of. Putting my picture on my blog was a personal choice. Live by the sword (or pen...computer) die by it. In local circles, it's not a popular thing to do. Most forums/blogs are represented by nicknames (mine is "sparxx" for which I have had for many years) and users apply avatars that somehow represent the user in one way or another. I understand why people do this, it detaches accountability to a face and makes freedom of speech more "free". You can say what you like and no one has to know who it is behind the scenes.

My decision came for a few reasons. I have always accepted responsibility for who I am, what I say and what I do. Yet in the online world there seems to be less accountability and people can seemingly do what they want, and say what they want and get away with it. Again, I understand a users right to personal privacy, but if you are gutsy enough to criticize someone or something, have the guts to show your face. There are strong and radical voices in cyberspace, and it is important to accept a responsible approach in all aspects of life... even our online ones. I preach to my kids about standing up for what they believe in and fighting the good fight, for their honour and for those who can't fight for themselves.

Dictionary.com defines commitment as "a pledge or a promise, an obligation". It also defines the word citizen as "a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection." It is my honest belief that as citizens we must always work to ensure that we do our parts in our communities to make all of our lives a little bit better. It's a commitment, and one I take seriously. I take it seriously for me, and my family. I choose to do so because I accept that there is work to be done. As with many others, I do so freely and with the hope that our future generations will do the same. There is no glory in it, there is no requirement for acknowledgement, and while some may see this as "tooting" my own horn, that's their opinion and they are entitled to it!

I choose to blog for several reasons, foremost it's a place where I can log my thoughts and keep my writing going. I have tried writing stories, and poetry and games, but for whatever reason never found a niche with any of them. This blog allows me a little more literary freedom and it provides the outlet I need, whenever I need it. Other reasons are for discipline and for exploration into my world as I see it. I titled this blog "distorted visions" simply because I know that for the most part my visions are mine alone. That's fine, and I don't purposely seek to irritate or aggravate. If that happens... so be it.

I have to accept that there are things, people who will not change. I have to accept that in our island paradise there will always be people who are just not happy. People who probably do a hell of a lot more in their communities than me and like me expect nothing in return. Bermudians are great people when they work together, and they are great more often than not, but they can be royal pains in the butt when they have reasons to be. I guess that's the way it is in most places, but in such a small society such as our own, and in ways where we can continue to be great, we continue to find reasons to fail.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Random Thoughts...

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world." - Buddha



The Lane School zoning tribunal convenes this Friday. There is no doubt that this should be a black history museum. The location is the Salvation Army Citadel on North St. at 1:45 p.m. Come out and help support the cause.

Halloween is Saturday. Keep it real people and keep it safe. This is a kids day, and we should all remember that. There is always reason to be cautious, let's hope the knuckleheads don't lose their minds. The dangers are many, so please take all the proper precautions.

Hurricane season is almost over. It's been unusually quiet the past couple of years, wonder if it's got anything to do with the global planet changes. It's time to pay attention people. Our world is going to hell in a hand-basket temperature wise. Recycle, re-use and remember to re-fill those ink and toner cartridges (shameless plug).

Lot's of talk on several boards about homosexuality. I'm not going to go overboard on this, so I'll just say that HUMAN RIGHTS should always be our number one fight. I'm not going to debate people on the issues of morality, but please remember, without human rights we have no debate. Freedom is a gift best used wisely. Live, love and learn!

A follow up on my post regarding Softball. Our ladies have travelled to the Bahamas, and it was a pleasure to see them off. I wish them all the luck. I told them Sunday morning that to have come this far is a victory in itself and that they should all be proud of their accomplishment. Win or lose they will do us proud I'm sure. As for the suspended pair, they have travelled with the team, but probably will be relegated to spectator level. The Bermuda Amateur Softball Association will always strive to do the right thing, and as such we will hold a SGM (special general meeting) on Nov. 17th. All those interested should please come out and get involved. We have exciting plans for the upcoming year (2010) and we need all the help we can get!

CURB held their AGM recently. Kudos to all those elected, including our amazing president Lynne Winfield who is now in Tanzania doing the Diaspora thing. Next year it's back in Bermuda and we should get it back on the front burner. Special mention goes to Dr. Eva Hodgson who has been given an honorary lifetime membership to our Central Council. Her wisdom and expertise in fighting racism in Bermuda is legendary, and while many people may not be able to find her candor appetizing, it has long been a staple for us and we are so proud to share in her brilliance!

Finally, my daughter turned 15 this weekend. I can't begin to tell you how amazing she is, or for that matter how old I feel. She is turning into quite a lady and as she presses on with her GCSE examinations this year, I know that she will do her best! I was also really happy to have her help me out with the Youth Softball Development League on Saturday. It's nice that a dad can share a sport with his kids (boys and girls) and as my kids have spent so much time with me at the Mike Preece Stadium (Bernard's Park) I look forward to spending a lot more time with them there! Happy Birthday Rachel... I love you!!!


Monday, October 26, 2009

The power of people....

If you fail to understand what people can do, even one person can inspire masses...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxkMwFFsCko


Saturday, October 17, 2009

Bermuda Softball - Our National Spirit.

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”


Softball in Bermuda has always been in our fabric. There has always been a connection with our culture and this very passionate game. It is as Bermudian a tradition as any of the other "big" sports, namely soccer and cricket, and it should still be spoken in that same reverence. It's not.

I have been involved in softball for easily the better part of 20 years, and I have stuck with it through the highs and lows, for which the local game is still trying to emerge from a murky decade of indifference. As Vice President of the Bermuda Amateur Softball Association, it has been a task trying to emerge from this period with a plan, and the support from the public hasn't always been there.

Slow pitch softball is the only competitive aspect of our game at the moment. Slow pitch leagues dominate and credit to their dedicated core, they have kept softball being played, even if it's not the "real" game we want. Slow pitch is a nice fun game, but there is no development, there are no progression charts. The top teams are who they always have been and there is very little to be gained from this game. Its fun and gives players a chance to play... but it's not our game.

Our game is fastpitch. It always has been, and always will be. We have a need for it and it is Bermuda Softball. For the past few months a ladies team has been very dedicated in trying to come together to compete in a tournament in the Bahamas, for which they leave in a weeks time. Under the coaching excellence of Braxton Stowe, the team is really taking shape and as we head into the final weekend of fundraising efforts we also look forward to the launch of our youth program this weekend. I can not begin to tell you how exciting this is. Focus on fastpitch, developing a plan, a strategy to carry us forward, and ultimately a long term goal of club softball being played around the island every night of the week! It is a solid plan and if we can make it happen, softball will return to it's rightful place on Bermuda's sporting mantle piece.

This weekend, B.A.S.A. will hold car washes at BAA and at Somersfield this morning and a bake sale at the stadium this afternoon. A reminder that all youth ages 15+ that are interested in playing are asked to please come out to the Mike Preece Stadium (Bernard's park) beginning at 4:30 p.m. for registration and introductions.

One last note. Some people may have paid attention to media reports this week about a player that was dropped and "re-instated" from the ladies team. She has, provided her "side" of the story, and early next week the Association will reply through those same media channels. I will not go into great detail, but I will say this. In meetings last night, for which she and another player opted out, a TEAM decision was made, and the decision was unanimous. Stay tuned for further updates!!!



Saturday, October 10, 2009

You gotta have faith....

“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” - Rabindranath Tagore



At some point I know that certain things are proven to be true. People are born, and people will die. Life here on our spinning blue ball continues to evolve and as we progress, it is in faith that we believe things will happen. Still our faith is challenged when things don't happen the way they are supposed to. How many of us become irritated when a light doesn't go on when we flick a switch? How many of us expect our cars to start every day? How many would be surprised if we walked into a grocery store to find that they didn't have any food? Our world is built on faith that things happen when we expect them to. Most of these things are easily explained.

We know that (or we hope that) if we pay our electricity bill, the electric company will continue to supply us with service, and when we come home at night and turn on a light, it should come on. Certainly bulbs will blow, fuses or breakers will blow or trip, but for the most part we have faith in the system. Just as we expect the grocery store to provide the food we want when we are hungry. In this instance we do not say that we have blind faith, we have proven faith.

We can have faith in our governments to do the best thing for us, but that faith is continually challenged when they do boneheaded things. To err is human... Still, most of us believe in the power of love, and to that end we have hope for the future. A lot of things reinforce that faith, that love, that hope for the future. Friendship, family, security and the basic idea that man is inherently good and that we truly care for everyone and everything around us. Faith is the key to human existence. Unfortunately this is where things become... muddled.

We have faith, faith in people, places and things, all things that we can prove exist, but when we all of a sudden have faith in things that can't be proven to exist, I begin to worry a bit about our future. I guess the point here is what I'll call the "GOD PROBLEM". For as long as can be known, people have had this ... problem. The problem is, that unlike the "electricity" problem, that can be resolved by paying the bill, changing the bulb or fuse, flipping the breaker, the God thing isn't so easily fixed. It isn't easily proven. The bible tells us that there are certain things we can do to ensure a place in heaven, but that heaven place, did someone get an address or phone number? I know DisneyWorld exists, and it may be the coolest place on earth, because I've been there ... a few times. I know outer space exists, because I can see the stars in the sky and I can see the facts laid before me by people who have been there. It's like Antarctica... I've never been there, but I have reasonable faith that it exists, because if I look hard enough I'll find someone who has been there.

The God/Heaven thing hasn't been proven yet people are willing to die for their faith. I'm just not getting it. I've been an altar boy, joined Young Life, studied with Christians, Mormons, Jehovas... and their story is all the same. An undisputed belief in a god or heaven that can not be verified. It's a feel good thing. People need to feel good and they need to believe that there is something good after you die. We know that every year after Christmas, there are post-christmas sales, but I have never met anyone that's had a post-life experience. We have to be careful. I understand the NEED to have FAITH, I'd just like it to be verifiable. I'm just not sworn to it. Give me something... anything. Give me a plug, a bulb, a power cord, an electric company, something tangible, something verifiable.

In the end, I guess it's a double edged sword. I believe in Christmas, Easter, if not for the social aspects of these holidays, so is it wrong for me to deny the existence of the one who makes those days important? Believe me, I want those holidays, so I know that it should be something important to me. Unfortunately it's not. If I lived in a society that told me I had to work those days, I'm sure it would mean even less to me. The one thing I will continue to have faith in, is man. One way or another I have faith that I will be surprised, shocked, amazed and horrified by what he can do. I only hope that faith is not the only thing carrying me through it all.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Becoming a lean green machine....

Did you know, the Hershey Company in the US produces about 20,000,000 kisses each day using 133 square miles of aluminum to wrap them in; this material is recyclable and most of it ends up in the trash rather than the recycle bin. - http://www.environment-green.com/More_Recycling_Facts_and_Statistics.html

It's a serious thing this recycling business. Certainly it is a business, the pros of running a "green" business definitely outweigh the cons. The statistics are staggering. Even here in our small island home, people think "green" as a way of life. Most of our fine citizens find ways to recycle, save energy and plant trees. We are known for our cleanliness. Tourists love that our streets are not consumed by litter and our oceans are not suffering the effects of pollution as most other countries in the west.

It's a part of our social conscience isn't it? In all that we do, we are challenged to live a better life, create a better world, saving the planet ultimately saves lives and who wouldn't want that? So keep separating your plastics, glass and metals!!! Hey if you didn't notice, our Government is offering the good people up to $5000 if you install solar panels in your home! Will that inspire people? Eh.....

So many things to consider in recognizing our "footprint", things we take for granted like that little Hershey's Kiss deal up there. Are you going to stop using your gas guzzling automobiles? Does car-pooling even happen in Bermuda? I don't think so. It's a nice thought, but it's an effort that takes mass coordination. We don't have the time to be worried about how others are doing, so we just keep stuffing those blue bags, keep taking our green bags to the grocers, and turn off the lights every once in a while. Oh and Belco will still give out prizes for those who do a decent job with their Christmas lights.

I wonder. Would you drive an electric bike? Would you recycle that paper in the office? Would you buy a bottle of wine that has a screw cap instead of a cork? Would you car-pool, or better yet walk to work? No... it's still too hot outside. Are we conscientiously making an effort to save our world, or are we just keeping the kids happy so when they go to school they can say "We recycle at home!!!" So keep stuffing those blue bags... we'll be green some day.

If we look at our lives, we must consider that even in doing what we do, it may not be enough. GreenRock reports that with each kilowatt hour of electricity we use, 751 grams of CO2 are pumped into the atmosphere. (here). There is hope fans... several businesses have begun to do their part. I'm not really into self promotion, but hey it's my dime, so you get what you pay for... Skinks Ink (located in Sound Stage in the Washington Mall) is refilling ink-jet cartridges, and Lanier Business products, who I am working with, are remanufacturing laser toner cartridges. Bermudian businesses doing the right thing. An off-shoot of the Lanier Business is the lithium battery electric bike EVT that uses no gas. It's conscious efforts like these that will continue to make a difference. So the next time you snap off a blue bag, have a look at the blue sky outside and wonder if it really is too hot to walk to work, or even better call someone and offer to pick them up!!!




Thursday, September 24, 2009

Who Are We???

“Culture of the mind must be subservient to the heart" - Ghandi


I see her royal majesty is planning a special trip here to help celebrate our 400th birthday. A real nice treat to end what has been a pretty fantastic year. Originally she wasn't coming, now she is. I wonder what changed her mind? Maybe a plea from our premier? Maybe a chance to come and put her royal stamp on us, to show that she really cares. Yup, should be fun. Let's practice those bows and curtsies boys and girls... lest we forget who we truly are. Our safety and security in the hands of ye olde british empire, making sure that the bad guys of the world don't invade us for our wonderfully pink sand. It's a lingering question. Just exactly who are we? What makes us special in the world, how are we different from those who would seem most similar?

Take a minute and look around. Aside from the slew of "Bermujan Verds", what is our culture? What distinct qualities make us different? Bermuda Shorts? Codfish and potatoes? Are these things truly unique to us? We have a history developed over 400 years of good, bad and indifferent. If we compare ourselves with those countries we most closely associate with are we more American than British? If so what about those who connect with the Caribbean? Why do we connect with some places, but not all? With a heavy latin presence there, why do we seem to connect with those former British colonies, and not with the Spanish places?? We had a Spanish presence once... what happened to us?

So, after 400 years, we are still defined by a queen, a crown... and it's only taken her 40 years to come back (ok... close to 40 years). What is the problem with that? If we are one of the last remaining Overseas Territories (1 of 14), you might think we're a bit more deserving. We're special... aren't we? Now we could look at the importance of us in a bigger picture, we don't hold world war or cold war summits anymore, and in reality we're not the most popular beach in the world, and for the past 30 years we've been open to international businesses hiding their books on our lovely shores. Talk of independence has come and gone, referendums, threats of anarchy and political change has seen our evolution change quite a bit since her majesty last graced our shores.

So we struggle. I note that some are wondering whether our Premier will have the decency to hang around for her visit. I guess the bigger question is.... why should he? Has she been involved in our lives the past 40 years (ok... close to 40 years)? Has she even sent us a birthday card? If anything can be taken from this impromptu visit, it's that we should be ready to kiss the royal backside once again, because all attitudes being equal, we really do need her in our world.

Let's hope the monarchy won't be burdened as such for birthday 401. We'd hate to keep her from whatever it is she does anyway.

Monday, September 21, 2009


“When you have completed 95 percent of your journey, you are only halfway there.” Japanese Proverb


There comes a point in one's development where he simply must recognize that going in the same direction leads him nowhere and that he must seek a new path. The road walked last week was a long and tedious one. One I have seen more than enough of, and one that will, for the moment, remain closed. That road is endless and goes nowhere. There are certain issues that make little sense to me and this is one. How do we get to a happy middle ground? How do we achieve peace of mind? Must we fight endless battles that accomplish nothing? How many times must we re-hash the same ideas, the same thought patterns only to end up in a name-calling, degradation of humanity?

We must always seek the strong, the positive, the path less walked. It is in the darkest of hours that we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move on. So I am... moving on.

I note this week that several pertinent subjects have appeared on the blogsphere. The cannabis question is an important one. There comes a larger question, one that exceeds our shores. When do we say when? If we allow cannabis, what happens when someone wants to legalize all kinds of hallucinogens? Are we not struggling with being under the influence a little too much? A society that accepts being dazed and confused as natural accepts that once that bridge has been crossed, there will be many others to deal with. In a non-smoking world, why would we want to say it's ok to smoke... anything?

A question... on the bad level, which is worse, drugs or gambling? Just wondering. The few places in our world where drugs are legal, stand out, but not necessarily for all the right reasons. An open drug policy will allow more people to be arrested leaving Bermuda, as it seems highly unlikely that other countries are going to bend their laws any time soon. Be careful. If the end goal is to prevent people from going to jail, then we need to look at the problem from the wider perspective. If we are to frown upon drug use at this level, then we should probably frown on alcohol abuse as well.


Last but not least is the apparent implosion of the United Bermuda Party. Who can honestly feel bad for them? Seriously, they have been pathetic, and now is the right time for them to bid the political world adieu. Don't wait for a new opposition to come up. Leave now, let the people have a better choice, even if there is none. Sometimes not choosing is a more definitive statement than making the wrong choice.

Stay tuned.



Thursday, September 17, 2009

If this is it then, let's have at it!

“If you know the enemy and know yourself you need not fear the

results of a hundred battles.” - Sun Tzu


It would seem that there are those who frequent the
Bermuda is another world site that have inspired Uncle Elvis
into engaging me here, so I will accommodate him (them). My
challenge here is a simple one, exploration, education and some how along the way an attempt to continue the discussion on racism.

Let me say this. Regardless of my feelings, I never resorted to
name-calling, and never resorted to the sort of character assasination tactics that happen at BIAW. I will not hide, I will not run, and I will only continue the dialogue here. The battle is on, Uncle Elvis asked for it, so let him bring it. In as much, I ask only one thing, that we do it one thing at a time, and if he could check his profanity hat at the door it would be greatly appreciated.

One other thing. It was/is not my intention to speak for others. I speak of things as I see them, which may or may not agree with the status quo. In my "distorted" (like the title of my blog) view, it is only one view, mine, I never asked people to like it, I never asked for alarms to be sounded, but we are here now, so let the process be complete.

You got your wish UE, I will back up whatever you want...


Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Wisdom - Why we must endure...

“The doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.” - Benjamin Franklin


The fight is over. At least it is for me. I stepped out on a ledge and was rejected out of hand. Fool me once, shame on me. I hope to all I hold dear that I am not so foolish again. The smart person picks his fights carefully. I didn't. Ouch...

Ok enough dwelling on the past. Bermuda truly is another world and I am one of the lucky few who can truly call it home. I don't know if there are better places in the world, but it would be extremely difficult to find one. One thing I think we as Bermudians truly fail to grasp is that this paradise os ours, and we should do whatever we can to make it the best we possibly can.

My beliefs on religion, faith, racism, politics, sports and ice cream (for there can be no better flavor than rum raisin) have all been challenges for me personally, most recently. It may be that I'm reaching the age where things truly matter, but it may also be that I care just a bit more.

I have never seen the world through my father's eyes. In my own liberal sensibilities, I still see the glass as half full. Dad's is always half empty. I have never believed in party politics, and in recent times have even begun to question the existence of God. Book plug - if you get a chance please read "The Evolution of God" by Robert Wright, a great investigatory piece.

The quest for wisdom is ongoing for me. Education never stops, Seeking the truths, understanding the untruths, knowing that when I walk out onto the ledge, it matters not how strong I am, it matters how strong that ledge is, and that there will always be hills to climb, oceans to swim, and fights to fight.

Just make sure that the fight is one worth fighting.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Racism - the work still to be done.










"Before enlightenment chop wood and carry water, after enlightenment, chop wood and carry water." Zen Proverb

It's a tough thing. In expressing a point of view, one must be willing to accept that the point of view is one that might not be accepted on all levels. It's quite possible that the point of view is shared only by a certain few, and will be defended against by those unwilling to accept it.

When a white person talks about racism, more than likely you will get someone who will admit that it exists, someone who will admit that they aren't racist and don't support any system or agenda that does. A pretty comfortable perch from which to view the world. If we seek further enlightenment, things can get pretty uncomfortable quite quickly.

Such is life in Bermuda. A core society where whites are the minority and are supported by a British oligarchy, a social structure created and built by whites and that still exists, blacks are the majority and have the political power, and have finally emerged from years of being held down. The transition from then to now has been a difficult one. Whites are now seen as irrelevant, and are asked to accept that the only way forward is in acceptance of the past. That will not be easy.

Our way forward is clouded in denial from whites and an in your face attitude by those in power. If whites (most whites, not all) had it their way, the past would be written in the history books and left there. It is difficult to say what blacks want. There are some who are content with life and like whites want to leave the past in the past, while there are some who are not so sure. A vote for the UBP (the white party) is a vote for the past. Seeds of insecurity and mistrust still exist. Discomfort over the past and an unwillingness to simply leave it for the history books means that there is still work to be done, on both sides.

I spent a good part of my Saturday on another local blog Bermuda is another world attempting to share my point of view about racism, and how that some attitudes prevail from the past. It's undeniable. For the most part I was accused of being a condescending, contradictory irritant who's point of view was neither appreciated or wanted. The thing is, I knew the minute I posted on the blog that I didn't share the same vision as most of the posters there, and even though most of us are white, I knew that I was in a cage of like-minded people, and the chances of me actually walking away from that site with a "feel good" were virtually nill. A bee in a hornets nest... so to speak.

What is truly scary is that most of these people argued my main points, most went after certain phraseology that was only used for "window dressing". What makes this even more disturbing is that while I found myself being dragged down into this muck, I lost sight of what was truly important, a continuation of the conversation. I left there pissed off, not at the posters who had baited me, but at myself for allowing to be baited. The other important lesson I learned yesterday was that for the most part you can't add "phraseology" to anything and expect it to be bypassed. Note to self - People will always look to degrade your vision. Do not add feed to their fodder.

I guess one of the reasons I joined CURB was that there are like-minded people like me, my own bee-hive if you will. Black and white, working together to continue the fight against racism in Bermuda, to educate and enlighten, and yes to even argue the importance of it all. To those people at BIAW, you goaded me into an area I didn't need to go. For that I apologize. You showed the kind of mentality I knew walking in, and for that I will do my best not to bother you in the future.


Thursday, August 20, 2009

Ze Selassie Guilty...


Interesting to see that they have found Ze Selassie guilty and have given him life in prison. The justice system has been under such scrutiny in recent years, and with the failure to get a conviction in the Kellon Hill case, there has been a serious outcry to have the system revamped completely.

I hate to say it, but Ze Selassie may have suffered the indignity of being found guilty even before his trial had begun. While we hope that justice has taken it's proper course in this trial, and for all intents and purposes it seems as though it has, I shudder to think what would have happened should there have been another botched trial and he walked free.

Ultimately we should still look at fixing whatever is broken in this system. That we have no answers in the Kellon Hill murder trial has left a sickening taste in our mouths. We need resolution.

Random Thoughts...

“When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than any talent for abstract, positive thinking.” - Albert Einstein


When do we begin to take stock of our lives? Our accomplishments, failures, celebrations, regrets. If you look back upon the days of our lives, there are significant moments, moments that have made a profound difference in our lives. The birth of a child, the death of a loved one, the day we get married, the day we get divorced. It's the impact moments of our lives that we recall most vividly, points we recall and use as life lessons, ones that will either inspire us, or be burdens we carry the rest of our days.

As a parent, we should make decisions for our kids that will give them the best chances for success. Rest assured that our hope for the future rests in their hands. How we help them along the way ensures that they grow up with the same ideas, same thought processes as we do, and hopefully they will make strong solid decisions with their lives.

Somehow along the way some of our youth are not getting the message. Somehow there are a bunch of great kids falling through the cracks. Kids making bad decisions. The recent murder trials that have dominated our front pages the past few months have put a major question mark on our young people. At what point are we going to step up as a community and recognize that we are at serious risk of damaging our future.

A few years ago I took the Youth Leadership Development course at the Bermuda College. Part of the program was centered around what makes a good leader and how we have to get our kids to recognize that they can be positive leaders in our society, and that the decisions they make can affect their lives in positive or negative ways depending on which path they choose. It's tough. people migrate to leadership naturally whether it's good or bad. It has become imperative that we seek to implement programs that will produce great, positive, productive leaders. The time is now.

I joined CURB a few months ago and recently went to my first meeting where we discussed advocacy. As a grassroots organization with a solid representation from people around Bermuda, it looks like the kind of organization that can help address the ills of racism in Bermuda. It should be an interesting journey. I look forward to working with them and doing our part to make our island a better place.

Last but not least, this week Bermuda is gripped in the paranoia that is Hurricane Bill. Now I hate to appear sexist here, but there are things that shouldn't have been messed with. I'm all for equal rights between men and women, between the races, between people of different sexual orientations, but did we have to change the rules about naming hurricanes? I was quite happy with the Emily's Anna's and Beth's of the world. Bill, who looks quite an imposing fellow, looks to give us the brush by in the next day or two. I hope we all get through it safely.

Namaste...

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Commitment to Excellence

“Excellence can be obtained if you:
...care more than others think is wise;
...risk more than others think is safe;
...dream more than others think is practical;
...expect more than others think is possible.” - Unknown


It is possible that the basis of human nature is to find a level of happiness or satisfaction in life, and settle for that level, without ever seeking more, without realizing that life can offer us so much more if only we choose to look for it. Life chooses challenges for each of us, and it is up to us to accept these challenges or not to. Inspiration finds itself in the form of our dreams. We dream the dream impossible, of bright lights, fancy cars and big homes. Each one of us dreaming of a life beyond what we have accepted as the norm.

Thus it is equally inspiring to find those who dare to live the dream, those who challenge themselves, those who are continually raising the bar to higher levels, and wanting to live the impossible dream. It is in those dreams, in the efforts of those who live their dreams every day that can light a fire in even the most desperate of souls.

For the past five years my daughter has found herself associated with a commitment to excellence that is unsurpassed in dance anywhere in Bermuda. The National Dance Foundation has hosted in conjunction with American Ballet Theater a 3 week summer intensive, known as DanceBermuda. Local dancers being trained by world class professionals, dancing alongside world class dancers and living the dream. The experience has been so enriching that my wife and I have volunteered for the past 3 years as host chaperones for the foreign dancers who come to Bermuda to participate in this amazing experience.

Enough of the feel good story. Let's talk about the Bermudian dancers who are not getting this experience. Let's talk about the greedy local dance school owners who chose to not help their dancers live their dream. No other organization or school offers what DanceBermuda does and yet hundreds of our young dancers are not getting the experience because these schools are more interested in $$$$ than they are in getting their dancers world class training. I've walked this road before. Letters to the editor, public please for cooperation have not moved these people. Each year has seen the few local dancers who do participate form friendships, and more importantly develop their skills. Ask anyone who participates, it's the real deal.

So the Bermudian stubbornness prevails. Should we be surprised? Bermudians have a reluctance to accept new ideas, and even in youth development we seem so far behind. With escalated violence on our streets and more and more kids falling seemingly by the wayside, we need more programs such as DanceBermuda, to help our kids live their dreams.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Hope for the future.....


The men whom I have seen succeed best in life
always have been cheerful and hopeful men;
who went about their business with a smile on their faces;and took the changes and chances of this mortal life like men; facing rough and smooth alike as it came. - Charles Kingsley

With all credit to my religious friends, this window of opportunity called life really has to be utilized to the best of our ability. I'm not so sure about an after-life, and to that end it is probably a pretty safe bet that we have this one chance, this one opportunity to make a difference, and we shouldn't abuse it. Our hope for the future lies in our ability to make the world a little bit better than the one we were born into. So many things to do... so little time to do it. We gotta get the lead out.

In a post cold-war world, fear finds itself with many different faces. As our world grows increasingly smaller, more and more people become agitated over the lack of hope for the future. Visions come and go, people are forced to change, adapt or suffer the consequences. My dad, a product of what may be called "the old school" has taken to this change like a pig with wings. Uncomfortable to say the least. In his professional life he was a photographer, and has done some amazing work. Two years ago he went on a trans-atlantic cruise, and as usual, took his professional camera equipment with him. His many rolls of film included. You can see where this is going. By port number 2 he had used all of his film and was left pondering what he would be able to do for the rest of his trip.

I gave my dad my old computer and printer so that he could do simple things. It sat in his office with a towel over it until I finally gave up, took it from him and left him typing happily on his electric typewriter. "Less confusing..." he says. I should also qualify this by saying that he has never owned a pair of jeans, and until the past 10 years never had a pair of sneakers either. Old school. But there is hope for the future! About a month ago he came to me and asked about buying a digital camera that he'll take on his Alaska cruise next month. We did some research (ONLINE) and I brought one in for him... in under a week. I'm not sure if he's tried it out yet, he keeps saying that he's reading the instruction manual... (help!).

Now I'm sure that somehow my kids look at me a lot like I look at my dad, and when you see how our world has changed it is truly scary the things we have to be concerned about. As I noted, we are a much smaller world, traveling at speeds that are truly terrifying. We can truly ... hold on and enjoy the ride. In all of our amazing advancements, it will be so important for us to keep important things in focus, family, friends and our own well being.

It is equally frustrating that with so much hope for our future, we still struggle with the basic humanitarian struggles that have plagued us for generations. Issues of race, education, disease and poverty still are on the front burner. Why have we not come to terms with any of it? Why have we let these issues foster in our societies for so long? What are we teaching our kids? What is important? A cell-phone, or a starving child dying of AIDS in Africa? A video game system, or a book? Have we as parents failed in our mission to create a better world for our kids?

The answers are complex and a lot more challenging than figuring out the video game HALO 3. The social issues, like racism, will not go away unless we are willing to step forward as a community and embrace them as tightly we have done with our personal technology. Wouldn't it be nice if we could solve the racism issue as easy as it is purchasing an updated blackberry? What is truly important in our society? How do we "focus" in an ADD/ADHD world?

Where is our hope for the future?