Lip Service June 30, 2007
Yesterday, I attended the march on the House of Assembly protesting Government Corruption. The theme to the gathering was honesty, openness, transparency and accountability, which were the word we chanted walking up the hill. Unfortunately, there were only about 60 to 100 people there in total, however that did not stop the spirit of the occasion. Stephanie Smith gave an amazing speech which hit upon exactly what most Bermudians expect of their government, but rarely see.
Ewart Brown finally made an appearance and took the mic to make a speech. In what was instantly a rather boring rehash of extremely trite comments, utilising my all time favorite phrases that I consider to be the last refuge of politicians with nothing else to say…
- “I’m glad to see everyone gathered here today”
- “…by you being here shows that democracy is alive and well”
He proceeded to tell us that it reminded him of when he was involved in rallies, protests and the likes. And that young Bermudians should stand up for what they believed. While his 3 minute speech was full of praise, it carried no real weight as to why people were actually there, but rather provided a rather dismissive lip service to the brave young women to organised this event. One thought occurred to me, in Dr. Brown’s feistier years while taking part in the civil rights movement back when he attended Howard University when the DC riots were on. I would imagine that a younger Dr. Brown would have been ashamed to see himself years later making a speech that essentially said nothing but rather waffled around the issue. I highly doubt he would not have accepted it then and I don’t think we should either.
After a few other politicians made their speeches, several members of Progressive Minds came up to the microphones to say a few things. The atmosphere got real tense when comments like “You need to get your fact straight” or “Do your research” was uttered. The crowd, myself included, started shouting back “That’s why were here! We want answers!” Unbeknownst to most, this brought about the attention of the PLP’s hired gun for spin (Their hired PR Consultant), who was frantically giving the kill motion to the younger PLP members at the podium to get them to stop. Apparently not following scripted protocol takes away your 15 minutes of fame.
Unfortunately I was unable to attend Greg’s steak house due to work commitments, however if any of you want to post the details please do so.
One additional note I would like to make is; Bermudians, you loose the right to complain if you don’t get involved. We need to shirk our apparent apathetic nature and stand for what you believe in; cause if a few 16 and 17 year old girls can do this, why can’ t you?
Update: BravoZulu has shiny pics of the event!
- Posted in : News, My Humble Opinion
- Author :Sean
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Thanks Sean for bring all that to our attention. Since I am off island this incident brings back memories of other rallies years ago where peacefull demonstrations were interupted by radical name calling. Those PM people need not have antagonised as they did as it only shows the mindset of this group and the party that they back.
Lets wait and see if they march on Government. Then again, they are and the mouth piece as well. Glad you had the balls to participate and support such a peacefull and supportive rally on peoples feelings and democracy.
Kudos to you and all. And your right. Where were the rest of us?
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Possibley off topic here but how can you guys(some of you) entertain these fools on PM. It’s nice to be nice but I think the ‘koolaide’ is being given out to often. The hate is right in our faces.All of us. Is this just more spin to make crackers uneasy? I find my box quite comfortable.
As Mom would say, use by, sell by,dispose of by.
Government should shut them down just like they did the electronic and print media. Yea right. When Cedar Beams Fly.
I’m trying to post my review of things on my website, stay tuned. As of now I’m still not sure how to rate the event but thought it was at least commendable for the Premier to talk with the young (and not so young) people gathered at a somewhat steamy Greg’s upper bar area.
Monkeyman,
So are the PM participants fools simply because their point of view is different from yours? I thought we were trying to move beyond the immature name calling, yet here you are name calling.
If you disagree with the views of someone else you can address it and explain why you disagree or you can ignore it but name calling is not going to do anything positive to close the gap that exists in Bermuda.
Yes Guilden, they ARE fools. People like Chapman that display supposedly ‘people of color’ getting ready to be lynched. Thats my “explain”. Get off your high horse or get your head out of the sand. There is a subtle differance between calling someone a fool and the label you put on me. Your a propogandist. In one breath you say the PLP has not done things right and in the next breath you defend Chapmans picture?
“Where did I say I defended Chapmans comments or picture??” I had nothing else to do thats why I responded to your comments. Your rebuttles and statements are so predictable. Do something for Bermuda. “What do you do for Bermuda, Monkeyman?”
Spin spin spin.
Monkeyman,
For the record, much of what Vanz says I do not agree with but you are labelling all participants of PM based on the posts of one individual. Please tell me what label I have put on you.
You are correct, I have not defended Vanz’s comments and I will not defend Vanz comments so please now explain to me how I am a propogandist.
Limey, Limey, Limey. Monkeyman, Monkeyman, Monkeyman. Not worthy of further responces. Invite, incite.
Have a great day Guilden. Ah, never mind.
Rummy, rummy, rummy.
And you wonder why your Matriarch won’t answer questions. I have proved the point that I set out to do. You all work in concert and I have been waiting for the day when comments like that would be made. Now Casual Observer go back to work over there at the Workers voice and say hello ot Fidel for me. At least you have free speech here. Then again, you don’t live in Cuba do you? To associate and agree with Vance Chapman and have prior avatars on Bermudasucks of Che’ Guevira et al just proves my point that birds of a feather including starlings flock together.
By pushing and shoving crackers like me you only prove that your agenda is about domination. That way, your PM blog and silly remarks on other blogs only proves that your message will only get out to your listeners because all others have left. Nice try Cardinal of the Kremlin.
Casual, Casual, casual………
Monkeyman -
I think if you actually pulled your head out of your @ss for a minute you’d see that over on PM i have NEVER EVER agreed with Vance - quite the opposite really.
But, I have a feeling that you already know that, just have nothing better to do with your time than try and rile me up.
Have a bermudaful day mate. Oh, by the way, you smell like black seal.
*K* to ya!
Monkeyman -
And incidentally, isn’t lumping anybody who has a different opinion from you, more specifically Guilden and myself - both of whome I would classify as ‘moderates’ and nowhere near the vitriol-spewing like of your mate Vanz over there on PM - very much the same as Vanz labeling people as ‘crackers’ and ‘anti-PLP?’
Different side to the same coin if you ask me. Attitudes like yours (and Vanz’) are the precise reasons why we’ll never get ahead. You aren’t open to any opinion but those that agree with yours and automatically write anybody else off and lump together cuz as you say ‘birds of a feather flock together’. Why do you seem to have such a hard time accepting that a differing opinion does not make a rabid, kool-aide drinking PLPer…? And even if it did… can you not accept that everybody else in the world is equally entitled to their opinion as you are to yours?? Without the commentary?
Thats not “lumping”. Lumping is including everyone. How dare you compare with me with Vance Chapman. As you say, everyone is entitled to their opinion. That was one of mine. At least I don’t spew the hate that he does.
Without the commentary? Well, one must speak right?
As for LMAO I guess that means ‘leave monkeyman alone ok’. Or, Limey Misses Another Oportunity? Then again, he never does. And yes I am open to opinions, some I endorse others I sling by the wayside. Just having knowledge of the past and what deeds were committed, sometimes one has to keep their mouths shut as till such time it is deemed neccessary to open it.
Appoligies for the commentary. Oops, thats right, this site is one of free speech for all sides, right?
Monkeyman,
One thing I would like to ask you, “Do you participate in these blogs because you believe that dialogue between persons of differing opinion is important and allows each of us to read alternative views to ours and maybe acknowledge that some of our perceptions are incorrect? Or do you simply wish to do as you have accused others of doing, that is, add to the divisions that already exist?”
I do not believe I have ever disrespected you, if I did it certainly was not intentional. If you are truly serious about contributing in a small way to narrowing the void that exist in Bermuda, I am open to having serious discussions with you. Contrary to what you may believe, I am a very strong proponent of having a Bermuda where EVERYBODY is treated based on the person they are not their skin colour or their wealth, etc.
Please stop with the communist accusations simply because we have different political view points. Also, please read my earlier post where I said I do not agree with much of what Vanz but he has every right to express how he feels, to take a position otherwise is the no different from the communist view you are placing on others.
So if you are serious, let’s discuss issues to see what we can do to close the gap.
If I disrespected you it was not intentional.? Then you preach too me about choice of words. I say what I say. If it offends you, fine. The truth be told. Guilden, you would’nt know dialogue if you had a cellphone or land line that said “dial-a-log..
This is like the Bugs Bunny Road Hour. I really don’t know why I am doing this. Probabley because my brain is full of black seal according to one observer.
Rest assured, it is not. I not as eloquent with words or spin as others. I just shoot from the hip, and have pretty good damn aim.
I wonder what choice words Ewart Brown would have used had he been fluffed off similarly by a politician of his stature way back when?
And about those Pm’ers. Give them a mic and they want the whole mega-phone. Whoa nelly - didn’t read the memo from Glenn I guess. Don’t raise a point that could require answering.
“How dare you compare with me with Vance Chapman.”
The comparison is made because as soon as you decide that somebody else has a different opinion they are lumped together. Did you not make the statement ‘birds of a feather’?? Is that not LUMPING TOGETHER? You’ve done it on this blog as well as others and your cute handle ‘Monkeyman’ doesn’t fool anybody, because the sentiments are the same.
The fact of the matter is that you are not open to dialogue and never have been becuase you are unable to accept that there are ‘all sorts of birds and the fact that YOU THINK it walks like a duck and YOU THINK it quacks like a duck, does not make it so. Your ignorant comments (”you wouldn’t know dialogue, blah, blah blah”) after Guilden’s very civil and sensible post confirms that you are just as close-minded and one-sided as those you criticize.
And another thing… MM
Your fake outrage at being compared to Vance Chapman is laughable when you are so quick to do it to others who have categorically stated that they do not endorse his hate-filled posts, citing them as counter-productive to open dialogue and discussion. You can clearly give, but can’t take and when challenged on anything you seem to avoid the points raised (refer to your response to GG’s quite sensible post). Not to mention then you pull the ‘you’re starting to sound like Guilden when asked to point out where something was said in a post’ (ALL THIS OF COURSE TO DIVERT ATTENTION BECUASE WHAT YOU ALLEGE WAS SAID, WAS NEVER ACTUALLY SAID.)
But, I digress.
Kudos to you Sean for going out there and supporting the youngsters. I think the reason a lot of others didn’t show up was because it was touted as a ‘Student’ event and those years are well behind me.
Casual Observer,
Thank you for the support. My view is that while we may differ in our views on how to get there I think the majority of us who post on these blogs certainly want a Bermuda that is inclusive of all. Most of us, I believe, have shown that differences in political ideology does not mean that we cannot have sensible dialogue.
I also give Sean kudos for going out and supporting the youngsters because I think it is important that the younger persons in Bermuda involve themselves in the process. I do hope that these young people will continue to show concern for their country. Political persuasion is no where near as important and involvement. I take my hat off to these young ladies.
GG - I am just sick and tired of this lumping together and blatant disregard for differing opinions by particular individuals on this blog and others. Stooping to the level of personal attacks, little digs and blanket statements does nothing more than render the poster and their comments increasingly irrelevent in my book.
MM seems to have a personal vendetta against me, you, and anybody that doesn’t ’sound like him’ and instead of speaking to the points raised is content to throw out the baby with the bathwater. As is his right. Fortunately, he is in the minority and I have had the privilege of open dialogue with many.
You really should check out Bermudasucks sometime though. I know you have expressed your disdain with the name (as did I initially), however I think the slant of the site has changed from its inception. We could use some more balanced views over there as well (although do note that MM aka Vodka will likely continue to evade points raised by lumping together, etc). Anyway, think about it.
MM does not have a perosnal vendetta aginst you. You invite comments by just what you just said. Your last pargraph speaks volumes. Balanced? Guess you need backup over there on Bermudasucks. You seem to hold yourself quite well after a few setbacks with your Cuban connection. This back and forth is part of the policy that some belive in. To me it’s a waste of time only because thats the primary goal. We may have our differances but I never betrayed who was who and where they were. Then again, why am I wasting time even responding? Only because I am drunk, ilinformed, useless, and have no say in the matter at hand.
One only has to look at all posts on every blog to see the ‘cahoots’.
Beat them down, call them as stated above and mabe they will go away and all 10 people can just spin, spin, spin. Rupert Mudoch can answer this better than I.
I know what I did for Bermuda. I also know that others undermined it.
As usual Casual your on a run. Thats not personal, thats fact. Enjoy.
MM you are so off with your guestimate of who CO is……WOW now thats what I call labelling!!!!! Judging someone based on who you think they might be……instead of the input that they have……
Don’t you worry about Monkeyman. He knows exactly what he talking about. Input? You may call it that, I have better words for it. Lord, it’s everywhere. Wonder what I’ll cook for supper?
That is hilarious I have always wondered about how much of your so called “facts” on people are true…but having the inside scoop on who CO and Guilden are I must say that you are dead wrong.
The only reason that I am stating this is because you are just as negative sometimes as those on PM and I need others to know this, and as stated earlier it takes from the intelligent dialogue that this site was set up to bring about.
Whilst I may not always agree with everyones posts for the most part they are insightful and allow me when I take a step back to see certain things as others might…and whilst I am on the other side of the political fence than Guilden I too want nothing more than a Bermuda where EVERYONE has equal opportunities and can get along, and this can only be achieved by effective communication which means not only speaking but also LISTENING.
So please for the sake of peace lay off the ridiculous labelling of persons who choose not to reveal themselves by using their real names.