Progressive Minds

Rocksolid,

I cannot say for sure that it was you that has done this. But the fact that a post which specifically highlighted the Constitutional section (section 59) concerning the motion of No Confidence, specifically highlighting the fact that the Governor may choose to EITHER revoke the Premier's appointment OR dissolve parliament, has been censored, and then you post this, leads me to think you are manipulating this site. Also a post 'An Open Letter To My Fellow Black Bermudians' countering some of the fearmongering spin has been censored. I tried to republish both of these, as THERE WAS NOTHING IN THEM CONTRARY TO THE IDEALS OF THIS SITE, but the minute I did so they were taken down. And eventually my Admin powers were stripped from me. I contacted two other actual PMers to address this issue, and they too had similar expereinces and now have had their Admin powers stripped from them. Fortunately I had the foresight to copy and paste at least the latter post.

Such actions are contrary to the ideals of this site. They are contrary to the long term goals of the Party and the progressive labour movement. Such censoring and manipulation will not benefit us, but only increasingly alienate supporters and members.

You, Rocksolid, were never a member of Progressive Minds. It is true I can no longer confirm that it was you that was behind these actions. Nor do I care. This site, those of us who were in PM, were very proud of it. We know the conversation was at times not the best. But it was a beginning and we had high hopes for its development. Instead it has increasingly been manipulated and abused by powers outside of PM, and has now become little more than a tool for those who would defend the Leadership at any costs. Ends do not justify means Rocksolid. Means determine ends.

The actions of those who have hijacked this site are beyond despicable. They have directly acted against the very purpose of this site, to stimulate critical discussion. Instead it has become a tool to bait and spin. There should be no place for that in this site, or the Party.

From 'bermyhouse':

Subject: An Open Letter to My Fellow Black Bermudians

To my fellow black Bermudians,

Whilst today's hott topic for discussion should have focused on disturbing reports that our Premier has again misled the electorate and potentially his own MP's in the House of Assembly on Friday by stating that the Police Commissioner had assessed the four detainees and deemed that they were "absolutely no security risk", only for the Police Commissioner to state on Tuesday that this was not in fact the case and that based on a lack of information the Governor and Minister Burch on Friday had been informed that they were actually "high risk", the media and powers that be have chosen instead to once again attempt to divide Bermuda along racial lines by focusing on the racial makeup of Tuesday's lunchtime demonstration.

BERMUDA WAKE UP!

How long are we going to allow the race card to be played against us and our greater sensibilities? Yesterday's demonstration was in fact organized in part by a black lifelong PLP supporter and attended by black Bermudians, some of whom were PLP supporters. That individuals would have us completely disregard those facts in an attempt to depict the crowd as a "lynch mob" is an insult to the intelligence and yet another indication that the powers that be thrive on us being a racially divided nation in order to distract us from holding them accountable. That individuals who once demonstrated and fought against their race being used against them as an impediment to progress would now attempt to use our blackness against us to keep themselves in power is an affront to each and every black Bermudian and can no longer be tolerated.
As the descendents of marchers and civil activists we can ill-afford to sit back whilst individuals run roughshod over our rights, with elected and non-elected officials deliberately withholding information and making decisions without having gone through the proper process - let alone the consultation of us, the people that they HAVE BEEN CHOSEN to represent.

That the makeup of the crowd was not representative of the general population was less indicative of white Bermudians "out for blood" and more indicative of the fact that whilst our ancestors fought long and hard to give us all the right to vote, the right to have our say, all too often our say is limited to our living rooms and water cooler conversations, but rarely go any further than that, providing our leaders with our own ammunition - apathy - to be turned around and used against us. Standing up for one's rights - even it be shoulder to shoulder with other Bermudians who happen to be white does not make one an Uncle Tom or a sell-out... the fact that we have even allowed this argument to be made and infect our psyche and limit our own progress is unfortunate.

There are a number of positive initiatives that have taken place under the PLP government. The demonstration yesterday was not a demonstration against the PLP. But let's be clear - one man does not and should not make the Government. Let alone one that has shown that he is willing to flout the laws of the land including due process and has failed to act with honesty and integrity, disrespecting the very followers who CHOSE HIM TO LEAD.

WAKE UP BERMUDA!

Securing the future of our children depends on us not allowing our black leaders to use our blackness against us. We are a patient people who have given Ewart Brown enough free reign... IT'S TIME TO PUT THE

POWER BACK WHERE IT BELONGS - WITH THE PEOPLE.