by Rick Lowe

On Second Thought was a weekly column this blogger wrote for The Bahama Journal from July 7, 1998 through September 7, 1999. Some of them might be dated by now, but I republish them here for what they are worth.

On Second Thought! September 7, 1999.

A question of truth

On a recent holiday to Ontario, Canada our eleven-year-old son and I went to the Ontario Science Centre. You’re right it was purely selfish, I wanted to go and Matthew tagged along but both of us spent the most time in an exhibit titled Truth?

There were some 39 exhibits that made up the presentation but for some reason we were both entranced with the area that dealt with prejudice and its many guises. Questions like: “Who is inferior? Who is superior? and Who decides?” were posed. There was a picture board of faces with various voices telling stories of their experiences and you would select the face for the voice. A section on Mayan writings and how scientist’s views that Mayans were primitive kept them form realising that Mayan is a sophisticated language.

However, three of the displays were extraordinary to me:

1. Confinement Box: You had to “step inside a box equal to the spaces that confined Africans on slave ships and prisoners on trains bound for Nazi concentration camps.” If this doesn’t have a profound effect on the people that enter I don’t know what will. To dismiss these atrocities as biases is just too simple I think.

2. Slavery: Who Is Civilised? The question is asked: “How much of today’s bias against various groups can be traced to philosophies of the past?” You can “Read excerpts from Plato to Freud which justifies slavery, desecration of human remains, even murder.”

And

3. Prejudice and Discrimination: Multimedia. Why is prejudice a part of human life everywhere? We are asked. A multimedia presentation examining the “experiences of street kids to the theories of academics” is also presented.

The exhibit leaves as many questions as it provides answers I’m afraid. However, if we each do our small part to teach our children the difference between right and wrong we would all be better off.

Miss the boat

In many ways we are miles ahead of America in our race relations. I believe we are closer to accepting Martin Luther King’s dream than they are. I just hope that as individuals we don’t miss the opportunities created by getting hung up on the past. No, I’m not suggesting we should forget the past as it relates to the races, but if we become consumed by it like much of the leadership in America we will forfeit a harmonious future.

Moral instruction and truth

For some reason though, history has a way of repeating itself. If we continue to allow our moral fibre to be eroded as it has in the past two decades I’m afraid we will become as intolerant as those who went before us.

My apologies to those who might be offended by the religious overtones but if we lived by the moral instruction of the Ten Commandments our prejudices just might disappear. If the religious aspects are really too much to bear maybe we can use the Rotary International Four Way Test as our moral compass. The Four Way Test of the things we think, say or do reads: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? and 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

I am convinced that if we are honest with ourselves we can work our way through our prejudices. I have certainly been able to dispense with many of mine in recent years by confronting the issue of racism directly. If accused of being a racist I simply confirm that I may very well be but I am willing to discuss the matter thoroughly to confirm that my suspicions are not correct and we can both be judged by the content of our character. It usually works out for better relations.

I hope Matthew came away from the Ontario Science Centre with the same view. If not I will continually encourage him to use the Rotary Four Way Test and most importantly be tolerant of others.

Bye for now

This piece was sent with mixed emotions. It is my final effort for The Bahama Journal. I sincerely appreciate the opportunity extended by Mr. Jones and the many fine people at Jones Communications. I have certainly learned a lot and come away with a profound appreciation for columnists who present work week after week, year after year.

I am hoping to devote more of my free time to The Institute for Economic Freedom (IEF). The IEF, as far as I know, is the only truly independent policy formation group in the country that is not under the influence of the heavy hand of politicians, government or bureaucrats. The IEF is growing with each passing month as more and more Bahamians are realising the benefits of the ideas of liberty and personal responsibility.

I trust the ideas and thoughts mentioned in this space over the last fourteen (14) months have at least helped to raise and broaden the level of debate in our wonderful little country.

Thanks for your indulgence and bye for now.