Bermuda Day is for rejoicing in our culture... but have we lost all sense of it?

Once again we head into another Bermuda Day in Heritage Month —when we reflect on who we are and our culture, a diverse set of traditions honed from many places. 

They say variety is the spice of life but this year a lot of the spice has been reduced to mere fragments of what used to be. 

I can’t help but wonder what we as Bermudians stand for besides the mentality of ‘me, myself and I’ and ‘all that’s mine.’ 

You hear it everyday, phrases such as, ‘It’s not my problem’ or ‘not in my back yard.’

Then there is the one that tops it all, ‘not my child, oh no.’ 

Ask what they think of the public school system and you hear, ‘my child is home-schooled’ or ‘in private school’ — really any school besides public school.

This year I can’t help but wonder how much Bermuda Day means at a time when collectively as a people — black, white and others — we have lost sight of the Bermuda way. 

Those of us born and raised here used to look out for each other — we’d lend a helping hand to get our neighbour’s house built. In the black community we had to stick together to get ahead. 

We marched for better salaries and got them, now we are comfortable with what we own.

Today we don’t even care who lives next to us, never mind where they are from. 

Years ago when our children came home from school there was always someone there. 

There was no such thing as latch-key kids trapped in a system of education that does not promote or develop thinkers with broad, open and informed minds — minds fostered to rise above their home circumstances. 

Our parents grilled it into us that we had to be 10 times better, brighter, smarter and harder just to be considered half equal. 

Now we shower children with materialism whether they live up to their end of the bargain or not.

We encourage the lowering of standards.

In my day we never heard of parents being afraid of their own teenagers. Imagine that!

On Monday, in usual fine form and fashion, thousands will line the streets to see the runners and the parade. They will not be able to mark out their spots the night before with spray paint and, yes, there will be fights over the best vantage points again.

In 2010 we will celebrate Bermuda Day in separate worlds. 

Most of one persuasion will line the streets in celebration, the others will be at sea on expensive boats to get far away from all that Bermuda cultural stuff. 

Despite the economic hard times, there will be the usual exodus abroad for shopping. After all, it’s the great Bermuda way!

In my house, Bermuda Day has always been about the runners. I live right by the street and my family and friends gather every year to sit on our wall to watch it.

We clap, cheer and encourage all the participants — the young and not so young. 

To all the runners, good luck, take care and may the force be with you! Get your rest and do your very best.

To the countless participants and spectators who live for this annual parade, relax and have fun. 

To my young brothers on the drumline, do your parents proud.  There are a lot of people behind you who work hard to make sure you do well.

I love my country and not just on Bermuda Day — every day and every night. There is more good in Bermuda than there is the negativity we love to highlight. 

We are blessed to be here on this island many see as paradise.

I love that we show off on Bermuda Day — only this time we should march for a better Bermuda and for truth and right. 

I keep hearing my fellow Bermudians say they want their country back. But things will never be the same. I don’t want my country back, what I want is my country moving forward and being progressive. 

And I mean progressive that is not just about money, cars, BlackBerrys and nice clothes. 

I’m looking for what Bermuda means collectively, not just people who think they are the best. 

To all of you, I’ll leave with this — have a Bermudaful Day. And remember, you have to make it through the night to get to a brighter day.