Sticking Their Oar In
Bermuda’s independence debate is attracting attention in the United States.
A memorandum published today by the Council on Hemispheric Affairs, a Washington think tank, concludes that despite the prominence Premier Alex Scott has given the issue, “a political tsunami that will bring on independence is not likely to occur”. The memo questions why the Premier has chosen to pursue such an unpopular issue, wilfully misinterpreting public sentiment, when the Government is already largely self-governing. It wonders if it’s not just political suicide.
The Council has been described in the US Senate as “one of the nation’s most respected bodies of scholars and policy makers”. Unfortunately, you have to question the quality of the analysis of an organisation that repeatedly refers to Bermuda’s inhabitants as “Bermudans” and thinks the last referendum on the issue was held in 1998. [Update, 7 January: Both errors have now been corrected]
Nonetheless, expect more outrage from the usual suspects about this unwarranted foreign interference in Bermudian affairs.
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Unwarranted and foreign, perhaps. That doesn't change the fact that they're absloutely right and have voiced publicly the opinions of many locals. Their comparisons to the Quebec attempt at Independance almost ten years ago still ring true today. Read your history books Alex. We have far more pressing matters to attend to such as; the ever skyrocketing cost of housing, our NASCAR-amateur hour road traffic problem, the delapidated barnacle farm that is our hospital. Take a poll, call a referendum, listen to those outside your entourage: We neither want nor need independance.
Posted by Adjustah! on 05.01.05 at 07:50
Is there a debate? As far I can tell, the vast majority of the dialogue consists of "why the f_ck are we talking about independence?"
Posted by Tiger Bay on 05.01.05 at 08:57
re: Bermudan. It's probably because that's how the Times of London does it. That's how their style guide says to do it, and to hell with what Bermudians actually call themselves. It's the same thing with `Bermudan options' in finance, where it's too late to change the name...
I wonder why this think tank bothered with us?
Posted by Douglas on 05.01.05 at 09:08
Oops, I am wrong about the style guide, see http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2941-561_2,00.html
Too bad their authors and editors can't follow their own guide consistently...
Posted by Douglas on 05.01.05 at 09:40
Us byes is Bermudians, de boat is Bermudan.
Posted by Tiger Bay on 05.01.05 at 09:44
That's "We byes arh Bermudians."
If you are going to say it wrong, at least get it right.
Posted by jake on 05.01.05 at 09:59
'Bermudan' is indicative of the awful, insidious influence of Microsoft, courtesy of their spell checker.
The Microsoft dictionary used to use 'Bermudan' instead of 'Bermudian'. I added the correct one to my custom dictionary years ago and put in a request to the Microsoft God to remove Bermudan and replace it with Bermudian. I never heard back, but 'Bermudan' is still there and I'm not sure if they ever added 'Bermudian' to the standard dictionary.
When a software company has this much influence over language we're in trouble.
Posted by replicator on 05.01.05 at 10:13
Actually, if HRH Queen Elizabeth II calls us Bermudans what chance do we have of getting the message out?
I'm tempted to find the passage in on of Terry Tucker's history books in which she very testily says that it is Bermudians. Terry Tucker was originally from Isle of Wight (I believe - without a doubt she was English), was a word maven and knew a thing or two about Bermudians.
Posted by boogie on 05.01.05 at 11:59
This thread verifies that Bermudians aren't interested in talking about independence!
Posted by Tiger Bay on 05.01.05 at 13:43
No. Just housing, drugs, violent crime, our economy, pensions, retirement, education, and health. Oh, and transportation too.
Posted by jake on 05.01.05 at 14:55
Bingo!
Posted by Tiger Bay on 05.01.05 at 18:03
Douglas:
You should also know that the official US guide to all foreign stuff (the CIA World Fact Book - it really is quite good) lists natives of Bermuda as Bermudian.
Replicator:
The MS dictionary allows BOTH Bermudan and Bermudian.
Looking it up in Merriam-Webster, it lists Bermudian first, with Bermudan as an accepted variant. My version of the OED, however, only shows Bermudian. Perhaps this is a UK:US thing.
Posted by Fraz on 05.01.05 at 21:44
http://www.askoxford.com/results/?view=dev_dict&field-12668446=bermudian&branch=13842570&textsearchtype=exact&sortorder=score%2Cname
Posted by Tiger Bay on 06.01.05 at 07:01
"Bermudan" comes from Microsoft's Spellchecker which will highlight "Bermudian" and tell the author the correct spelling is "Bermudan". Someone ought to write to Bill Gates.
Posted by Tiggy on 06.01.05 at 13:37
I blame those Canadans.
Posted by Tiger Bay on 06.01.05 at 13:40
Please, give it a rest. Bermudan / Bermudian ... haven't you got more important things to whinge about?
Posted by ExpatL on 06.01.05 at 19:39
......an/ian? I suspect some of you need a hobby.
Posted by CB on 06.01.05 at 20:47
Isn't it Bermujan?
Posted by Steve Moffat on 07.01.05 at 22:35