Pride And Respect

An interesting, if over-long, opinion piece in today's Royal Gazette has helped clarify my thinking on why I don't believe Bermuda is ready for independence, at least under the current Government.

In it, the writer deconstructs one of the arguments in favour of independence: that it will give Bermudians a sense of pride. "Only with Independence can national unity be forged and pride in being Bermudian fully develop," Premier Alex Scott said recently. Yet as the writer points out,

If pride is truly "... the pleasure take from one's achievements", it cannot be a gift that we can make to ourselves, nor can anyone else confer it upon us. Pride, like a good reputation, must be earned "from one's achievements".

Like pride, respect is something that's earned, not given unconditionally. The Premier's belief that pride will only come from independence and his table-thumping performance the other week when he demanded that the UK show him some respect are two sides of the same coin. Taken together, they suggest a childish insecurity, a belief that Bermuda can demonstrate its readiness for independence simply by shouting how ready it is.

Just as getting married will do nothing to heal a dysfunctional relationship, so going independent will neither instill a sense of pride in those who don't already have it nor result in Bermudians gaining the respect of the wider world if they don't already command it. Pride and respect should be preconditions for independence, not its result.

Comments

[Tiger Bay on 16.04.04 at 08:03]

The debate over independence is being made purely over emotional reasons -- practicality has nothing to do with it.

I think it's being driven by the fact that we have too much pride ... and overestimate our position in the world.

As an indepndent nation, we are even more insignificant on the world stage. We would have no additional control over our destiny.

[Vroooom on 16.04.04 at 12:18]

I kid you not ... quote from Alex Scott about Tony Blair's visit with Cabinet (from Gazette).

“It’s the first time Cabinet has had someone in charge.”

Yes, Alex, I'm afraid that's all too obvious!!!