Claiming that he is guided by the principles of French philosopher Voltaire, who said: “I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it,” Mr Galanis is busily trying to demonstrate that Tribune Managing Editor John Marquis, an Englishman, has no right to produce the type of columns he writes while in this country. Mr Galanis has even brought up the issue of Mr Marquis’ work permit.
Mr Galanis infers that in this editorial column we have also abused our right of free speech. He says he is not so much offended by the words used, “although they were steeped in contradiction, inaccuracy and false generalities”, rather he does not like the tone of the articles. Of course, it is hard to debate a person who gives no examples of what he calls “contradictions, inaccuracy and false generalities” but only talks of tones.
However, by persistent probing of the Galanis thinking, we believe our reporter Mark Humes unearthed the kernel of the problem. We are now satisfied that Mr Galanis likes his news served up as Pablum – you know that mushy cereal that is easy for babies to digest.
Mr Marquis, a brilliant craftsman of the English language, is too hard-hitting for Mr Galanis. Mr Galanis eventually admitted that although he agrees with some of what Mr Marquis had to say in the article that caused his first complaint to The Tribune, he disagrees with the way in which Mr Marquis says it.
As an example, Mr Galanis, unlike Mr Marquis, did not think that our educational system is “practically defunct.” Instead of using those words he believes Mr Marquis should have softened his comments by saying that the Bahamas’ educational system is “extremely challenged.”
What an understatement of the truth. Our educational system is more than “extremely challenged.” It is in such crisis that the words “practically defunct” are nearer the mark.
Listen to teachers talk of having classrooms with so many unruly children that they can hardly teach those who are there to learn. How many times do we hear the comment: “They just don’t want to learn!” Yet these non-learners are mixed up with those who want to achieve.
Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell announced at a recent PLP mini-convention that government was trying to place 1,200 school leavers in the Public Service at taxpayers expense. These were school leavers who had not passed their exams.
The school leaving grade for Bahamian students in government schools fluctuates between a D and an F average. And on all sides business people – including a member of Mr Galanis’ own government – are warning the nation that if Bahamians don’t become trained in skills that are important to the future of the economy, more foreigners will have to be brought in.
The Tribune is not here to lull Bahamians into false hopes. We are here to waken them up, not by feeding them Pablum, but by telling them hard facts in the hope that they will take, up the challenge, put their shoulder to the wheel and get down to nation building.
And if Mr Galanis doesn’t like hard, cold facts presented as objectively as possible, then he doesn’t have to read The Tribune,. Because we have no intention of softening anything for him. An attitude of condescension to tourists, investors and even Bahamians, so as not to hurt their feelings, has got this country into a lot of trouble in the past.
For example, Sir Stafford Sands and many other Bahamians bought into the Flagler theory that if persons of colour were allowed into the hotels as guests, white Americans would stay – away. Henry Flagler was the New Yorker who built the first British Colonial hotel.
And so to save our tourist industry and encourage our investors, the doors of all public places were closed to black Bahamians. That pernicious policy continued until 1956 when the late publisher of this newspaper, Sir Etienne Dupuch, stood on the floor of the House, risked arrest, and announced that it had to end. And end it did.
Bahamians, both black and white, quickly discovered that we had been fed a myth. Our tourist industry went from strength to strength – tourists wanted the warmth of the Bahamas, from both the climate and the people. They didn’t care who sat next to them in the hotel dining room.
We told you in this column yesterday how small delegations would take up Sir Etienne’s time when he was editor trying desperately to keep the word “shark” out of our news columns because it might frighten the tourists.
But what might surprise you is the number of coloured Bahamians who would also take up his time trying to get the word “black” in reference to a person dropped from our columns. No Bahamian was to be referred to as a black, they argued. The only concession was if the police put out a report looking for a “black” man in connection with a crime. In that case skin colour could not be avoided.
One day a black Bahamian was appointed to a top position. It was a tremendous achievement. Not only was it the first time for a Bahamian, but it was also the first time for a black Bahamian. Sir Etienne was particularly proud because it seemed that his life’s work, and the reason for the very founding of this newspaper had been achieved. And so The Tribune’s headline, in jubilation announced: “First Black Bahamian appointed…”
No sooner had The Tribune hit the streets than a friend of the man’s family came weeping to Sir Etienne. Why, oh why, had the word “black” been mentioned. His family was devastated. As a matter of fact, certain members of the family stopped speaking to Sir Etienne.
Today “black” is beautiful – as it should be. And if that same headline had been published today, Bahamians, including that man’s family, would have been very proud.
Over the years this society is shedding its phobias. The only problem is that The Tribune has always been way ahead of them. Bahamians will eventually catch up.
And so, to Mr Galanis, either get used to us, or stop reading as. We have no intention of changing our policies.
Editorial from The Tribune
