Posted by Jonny on March 21, 2002 at 20:00:59:
In Reply to: Re: Proposed Marina posted by HAMP on March 21, 2002 at 12:23:40:
Racism begins when one assumes that to be black is to be 'native' whilst to be white is to be 'foreign'. I am not blind to the fact that the vast majority of tourists to Briland are 'white'. However, we should not be blind to the fact that there are 'white' natives here too. The Bahamas is a multi-racial nation, encompassing both 'blacks' and 'whites'.
As we come up to the election here locals are going to run hot and a lot of misinformation is going to be spread. Whilst I agree with Glenroy's general position on foreigners such as the Shogrens coming here and buying land to which they are no entitled, I am aghast that he should rant about land-grabbers when he has made his money from developing the land bought by so many of these rich 'white' land-grabbers. If he is so against it shouldn't his principles prevent him from profiting from such injustices?
One major problem here on Harbour Island is that people are very good at making noise about what others are doing whilst at the same time they profit from that which they publically disagree. If any changes are to be made here people have to stand by there principles. If you disagree with something it is not enough to rant and rave about it. You have to act according to your principles. If you think something is wrong, you are wrong if you then go and profit from it. Don't say that you think so and so's purchase of land is wrong and then make money yourself by building a property for them on it. If you think that the Shogren's purchase of Crown Land is wrong, refuse to provide your services as a contractor to them. If you think that the way the Shogrens forced the Taylors out of their home by threatening to build a new building on the Crown Land in front of the Taylor's house is unjust, refuse to provide maid services to them, refuse to put gas in what was the Taylor's Moke, refuse to put gas in the Shogrens boy's boat. It is time that Brilanders quit simply complaining about what the foreigners are doing to our island and start acting. If you think that the owners of the dive shop at Valentines are wrong to try and force Jef Fox off the island, stop providing them with services on the island. Don't give them fuel for their boats, don't sell them groceries, don't serve them meals. Let these foreigners know that they are not welcome if they come here and try to force the island to be the way they want it rather than accept the island as it is. If you don't like Briland the way it is go to some other island and leave ours alone. If you don't agree with Elle Macphereson having a beach built on the harbor side of the island, tell her. The only way unpopular changes are going to be prevented here is by us locals saying and, more importantly, doing something about them.
Briland is ours to defend. Sure, we may not agree with each other all the time about what is best for our island. But unless we are willing to stand up for what we believe in the island will change around us, and that change will not be thanks to us, but thanks to those foreigners we complain about under our breath but help in order to line our pockets.