03 August 2008

Obligatory Non-Mariners Post



This was my favorite non-vessel from the non-mariners' race that didn't happen today. Despite the non-happenings of this particular float, I predict that the faith-based tourism issue is the one least likely to sink below the surface as time progresses. It seems as if Andre Curtis has been hung out to dry with nary a peep from LaVerne Furbert, and without any op-eds in support from the party commentators.

The non-mariners' race can definitely be classified as a white event. Not exclusively, but very true across the participants and spectators. It is one of the few examples of political satire on this island, and I believe that Bermudians, especially black Bermudians, don't enjoy satire. Now that I have made an egregious generalization, feel free to let the beatings begin...

Speaking of race, is it just me, or were whites over-represented at the Crown & Anchor tent on Friday afternoon at the game? Given the terrible odds for Crown & Anchor, does that mean whites are less intelligent than blacks? Or perhaps the blacks played on Thursday? Or maybe whites just don't like cricket...

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I went up there for the first time ever this year. Spent my time nursing my Guinness up at one of the pubs and people-watching.

From my observations it really is very much a 'white' event as you put it, and also one very much dominated by ex-patriates.

I do enjoy the political satire myself, even though most of the themes were very much against the PLP - some of them justified though.

I do think that you are mistaken about Blacks and satire, I think as a group and especially hisotrically they have a very great appreciation for satire - aside from outright revolt that and the passive aggressive mask was about the only subversion allowed them after-all.

But I do think it does highlight some of the chasm that exists between our two Bermudas. There are no doubt more cultural common ground than between Bermudians and non, but there are also great differences.

Makes for some interesting contemplation.

More Guinness I think...

Rebelbanker said...

The upcoming generation are (as should be expected) a lot less white and a lot less expat than in the event's past...

White people don't have a monopoly on satire, and the spectators (who were mixed, white at the Sands Boat Club and black/white at the beach) seem to appreciate that.

Anonymous said...

"even though most of the themes were very much against the PLP"

The themes are against the Government as distinct from the PLP. Always have been back to the UBP days as well.

Just like the Not the Um Um show. They lampoon the Government primarily. Comes with the territory.

No need to see conspiracies when they don't exist.

This islands obsession with ascribing racial motives to everything is so depressing.

Anonymous said...

Jonathon - how can you say that the event is dominated by expats? Did you get some binoculars and count them?

Anonymous said...

Sheesh you guys, relax.

I found there to be a very high proportion of Whites and ex-patriates, this based on the people I met and interacted with along with my general (yes, bino sweeping) review of the event. The demographics were not representative of Bermuda as a whole. I wasn't making any more of a comment than a statement of fact.

I am well aware that the event has been about satire since before 1998, to me its an extension of the not the um um shows. My comments were more tongue in cheek there. And I agree that there was a lot of just criticism. So there is no conspiracy theory there at all. I do note that some of the people named in the event are known to be members of the UBP, but thats about it.

Sheesh.

Anonymous said...

One of the positives I noticed about cupmatch was how clean it was around the stands and crown & anchor tables. Normally I only notice these things when they are negative but thought it was a great event this year.
Or maybe i'm having flashbacks of the mud from last year?