If it is true that Bahamians are xenophobia (which is not true) where would the Bahamas be? Very often we find ourselves in situations where we are the only Bahamian in the group. Go down town and you will believe you are at the UN. every one is speaking a foreign language. Bahamians are becoming the stranger in their own Country.

This is a classic column................... Burrows needs to hold a briefing with........ first the three political leaders, then the Cabinet, then the Ministries PS, then the COB & Christian Councils, then the Chamber of Commerce .......... Lord Jesus then every principal, teacher, pastor, psychologist, talk show host ...... mother, father .............. every prospective 2017 election candidate........... every Bahamian

This column best describes the problem with the rhetoric of the present black Bahamian elite

Wonderful article Ms. Burrows. We all know Bahamians just like to use trending words or
phrases and i am quite annoyed by this . Some of them are; ludicrous, god willing or god's
willing,would have (for something that has already happened),going forward,etc,just to name a few.

bey i showin you. nuff english words dictionary meaning is different from it's actual use (and even at odds with it's latin root, suffix, prefix, whatever). I ein get caught up definition thing, but what is right is ppl need to have they point of view. The point about the oppression of political correctness is spot on, and just cus someone does have an opinion don't make it right to start call them names. Judge not y'all lest y'all want be judge

The overuse of the term xenophobia in the illegal Haitian immigrant/Bahamas context is intended to create a fake moral and intellectual high ground for illegal immigrant enablers once their arguments fail. I have long recognized this.

We share obvious similarities with Haiti, and whether by invitation or not, we have shared the same space with disproportionately high numbers of Haitians compared to any other nationality for decades. The only unknown with regard to Haitians in The Bahamas is exactly how many are illegal. Even if the high illegal immigrant figures thrown about are irrational and the stuff of imaginations, we face an uphill battle in finding out because, apparently, it is "xenophobic" for a country and its citizens to even want to know these things.

A very good and accurate observation ......... ask the average Haitian their impression of landing or visiting Long Island ....... they say we will kill and eat them ........... that is because Long Islanders do not harbour illegal immigrants

It's not worth repeating. You still clearly misused the word.

It is not a misuse of the word. And well worth repeating. This country has a problem with how it deals with and treats foreigners. There is a hatred here and it is one of the things handicapping this country.

It clearly is misused. Poor leadership, an uniformed electorate and corruption are some of the things handicapping this country, not xenophobia.

Clearly, newcitizen is foreign or of foreign origin. I don't understand. If you are foreign in The Bahamas and you think Bahamians hate you because you are why the hell are you (still) here?

a2z your xenophobia is showing.

maybe you do not fear or hate foreigners, that is the message you just sent.

it is disdain, bahamians disdain anyone who is not a 'pure bahamian'.

yet the majority of persons nowadays are of west indian descent that call themselves bahamians.

You are correct many Bahamians are of West Indian or some other descent. So are we are multi-heritage and xenophobic? Or do you simply have no logic to support your biased view?

Your first reaction is to question my origin but not the quality of my argument. You are proving my point.

I don't agree that a2z proved your point...but you proved mine by contradicting yourself. Xenophobia allegations end all logical, practical and honest discussions because both you and I know that Bahamians are not xenophobic. Most important, these emotional and exaggerated statements promote discord. As a result we lose the opportunity to find common ground and a mutually beneficial solution. At the end of the day the "pure" but average Bahamian, expat, legal or illegal immigrant or foreign investor are all victims of inept and corrupt governance.

You have no quality of argument. And you have no point. If you had the presence of mind to understand basic definitions, you wouldn't find it necessary to make a giant leap over truth. You suggest that Bahamians hate themselves; well, they are foreign to this land. If they hate foreigners, your false argument concludes that they hate themselves. Are you too ignorant to see how ignorant you are?

And how the hell did you get here if Bahamians hate you so?

maybe he was unfortunate enough to be born of a bahamian woman married to a foreign man.

the framers of the constitution are women phobic.

if sir lynden pindling were born on the 11th of july 1973 of the same parents, he would need to wait 18 years to become a citizen.

bey at the end a the day all of we is from somewhere else somehow, somewhere down the line. For a 'Christian country' its amazing how bahamas is carry on, i swear.

Jesus say he was gone prepare a place for us. bey if he was a bahamian what would he sey? only those born in heaven and those rich enough to buy a mansion (500,000$USD and up) in heaven can get in, erryone else gone to haiti when y'all dead

Nicole Burrows...man oh man - I fried you on facebook before...probably one of the most epic intellectual defeats I've seen in Bahamian internet dialogues. Im surprised you are going back to this.... Really? I mean just read what youv'e written. Critically examine the premise of your article. Send it to one of your college professors...ask for their honest feedback. oh boy....youre lucky I'm too busy to hang you out to dry in the comments section here. But since your into dissecting big words i've got one for you to ponder. MYOPIC! Myopia describes the intellectual space your writing occupies. You tell people what they want to hear, to make them feel validated in their tiny world view, To make them feel victimized and provide a comforting faux moral high ground. The sort of thing the readers of British tabloids enjoy. This doesn't seem so harmful until one actually gets a grip on the GLOBAL reality that impacts our lives in real ways, with real consequences that require real ANALYSIS and demand of us more more critical thinking than a 4th grade geography class. As an op ed writer you have a moral responsibility to do better.Period.

The vitriol laced in this thread is amazing. I've studied the Tribune242 site for a long time. This writing sounds familiar..voltaire, I believe it was. Yes, the gay guy who teaches in Eleuthera. Reminds me of him.
I wish Nicole reads this and answers you back. 'Hang you out to dry'? If I were The Tribune, I'd find that a personal threat and delete you from this thread and all others. What a dick...who clearly thinks too highly of himself and the quick sand of hallucinated moral ground he stands on.

Actually Knowathingsor2, it is people like you who tell people what they want to hear. There are always two sides, three some say, to every story. When people slap the word xenophobia on immigration law enforcement activities and to disregard the right of citizens to feel and express their views on how it impacts them, you know it cuts any productive conversation short. Who wants to engage in discussions with anyone who insults them from the start? And just like the people who abuse the term xenophobia, you attack the columnist instead of intelligently discussing the social, economic, healthcare, and future impact of illegal immigration and why some viewpoints may be incorrect. You were not too busy to put together this empty tirade and I doubt that you are capable of handing anyone an “epic intellectual defeat.”

Evidently Nicole is not smarting from what you believed to be an "epic" intellectual thrashing. However, it's ironic that you used the word myopic because "Myopia describes the intellectual space your writing occupies".

Those who simplify opposition to illegal immigration as "xenophobia" are extremely narrow minded. In reality there are logical reasons why a small, developing nation would not welcome scores of illegal immigrants and promote an anchor baby state. But of course, you couldn't see that and that's not what the "victims" want to hear. Also, FYI, global realities are here and illegal immigration is a common one for many countries...but I am not surprised that you can't see that.

Ouch a2z! Ok I give, there is perhaps an unwarranted acidity in my comment and an arrogrant tone. For that I apologise. sincerely. Though, i'd argue, your response exceeded the toxicity of mine and makes the undue assumption that I am male and a regular contributor to tribune242 comments. Also there is some irony in the fact that you suggest my comment was threatening but feel free to use profane slurs and call people "gay." No hard feelings getting dramatic on these threads is always fun.

I should give Nicole more credit but I let passion get the better of me. In all honesty on a second reading there are some good points in the article about making space for difficult conversations and not jumping the gun on the x - word. Political Correctness can indeed go to far. Also her acknowledgment that the hatred of foreigners comes from the fact that Bahamians are treated often as second class citizens in our own country rings very true. BUT there remains some serious assumptions and oversights.

The first being failure to acknowledge that human rights in the Bahamas are still fragile therefore ongoing discussion about human rights is needed. Many people on Nicole's side of the argument shut down people with a human rights perspective by calling them " Haitian Sympathizer" "unpatriotic," " not a real bahamian" having much the same effect she laments of people who call those on her side " xenophobic". The second erroneous assumption is that the rights of foreigners and the rights of nationals are separate and opposed to one or the other. You can have a society where fundamental protections serve the well being of all, rather than one group over another believe it or not. The third assumption I see as incorrect is the ideas that rights and privileges follow lines of nationality - I would argue they rather follow lines of class, political connection and money.

The reason people cry fascism when they see views like Nicole's is because historical analysis of some of humanities darkest events (apartheid, jim crowism, rwanda 1994, ethnic cleansing in former yugoslavia in the early 90s, Germany in the late 30s,) unveil uncannily similar language. The atrocities commited during these historical events were often carried out by ordinary people. What disturbs me is the slippery slope from the rhetoric found in Nicole's writing and in contemporary politics. But those who don't study history are doomed to repeat it.

My2cents. I agree to simplify opposition to illegal immigration as "xenophobia" is narrow minded. But to ignore xenophobic rhetoric in anti immigration politics is narrow minded and risks allowing a distorted understanding of the role immigrants legal and illegal play in the economy and society that prevents us from addressing real legal issues of documentation and the necessary movement of people and ideas in the 21st century world. You are right that there are logical reasons why a small, developing nation would not welcome scores of illegal immigrants and promote an anchor baby state. However the reality is that this small developing nation has spent years depending on an economy with a hunger for cheap labourers whose babies cannot be faulted for desiring the opportunity to participate in the development of this country. What do you think? Is there any truth you can see in that argument?

“Xenophobic rhetoric in anti-immigration politics”…really? There is nothing discriminatory or unique about the Bahamas’ immigration policies when compared to other 21st century immigration policies. Haitians simply feel targeted because they are the largest group of immigrants. However, no immigration law or policy singles out any specific group. It also does not distinguish between children of illegal or legal foreigners, with regard to applying for citizenship at 18. The failure of illegals to accept an iota of responsibility for their actions and the unfortunate situation it places their children, prevents discussion. In a perfect world, no child should be faulted for their parents’ action or denied an opportunity to succeed…but in reality everyone is impacted by the decisions and legacy of their parents.

The role that illegals play in an economy like the Bahamas, is that it takes jobs out of the market for Bahamians. An illegal who rooms with 5 others, and splits a $25-50 per week in illegal rent, little or no utilities, can always perform the job more cheaply. If we disagree on how illegals benefit an economy with 15% unemployment, overcrowded schools and taxed resources…where is the common ground?

So who among you can honestly answer what you fear more or less. Five Haitians that perform menial chores and accept subhuman treatment by the wider populous. Or five well educated white people that are capable of competing for your well paying job.......and I give you the true meaning of Xenophobia and a country that is slowly regressing to the South instead of advancing to the North

"The role that illegals play in an economy like the Bahamas, is that it takes jobs out of the market for Bahamians" This is beyond wrong! And yet it is a misconception shared by so many around the world! An economy is not a pint pot that only holds so much. The more people there are, the more jobs there are. It works even better if the extra people have the same rights as those already present, so that they can buy cars, have bank accounts, and so generate even more employment. That way they can contribute fully to society. And don't forget, now that we have VAT, illegal immigrants are paying taxes just like legal ones, so shouldn't they be entitled to the same benefits? If they can send their children to school that will make more jobs for teachers too ... and avoid the looming spectre of an uneducated underclass that can only turn to crime to survive!

We can all appreciate Ms. Burrows English lesson but in today's world, few words are used technically correctly and they develop everyday use and meaning. Writers are quite correct to refer to the prevailing attitude regarding non-Bahamians by resident Bahamians as being xenophobic. We get downgraded and some get pissed off because foreigners say so. You have an activist group who receive money from non-Bahamians and suddenly it's a plot to destabilize the government. You have a dispute with Izmiralian and because he dared to push back, he is villified. As per the dictionary we can debate this view, but as used in everyday language, I'm afraid Ms. Burrows that we are xenophobics...