When Hubert Ingraham came on television election night after his Free National Movement (FNM) was defeated, he had my full attention. An era was over.
What would he say? How would he look? What next?
He was sad. He almost cried as supporters cheered for him on what must have been one of the most difficult nights of his life. The nation will always remember that moment. It was the beginning of the goodbye to one of the fathers of the modern Bahamas.
There are moments in history that stand out; moments when we unite around events that are about our collective journey as people; moments when we reflect on the contributions of those whose actions influenced our lives; moments when we reflect on greatness.
The next such moment in the exit of Hubert Ingraham will be his farewell address in the House of Assembly on July 25. After 35 years as a member of Parliament, Ingraham is to say goodbye to a place he distinguished himself in. The question is, though, will he and the men and women in that place live up to the moment, or will myopia make it an occasion less than it should be?

The fighter and the attacks
Whether you like him or not, Ingraham's story and accomplishments are extraordinary.
The poor boy raised in Abaco rose to become prime minister three times. During his first 10 years in office there was exceptional growth in the Bahamian economy. The international reputation of The Bahamas at the end of the Pindling regime was poor. Ingraham helped restore it.
After the FNM was defeated in 2002, he led it back to victory in 2007. In that last term in office Ingraham was faced with responding to the most significant recession since the Great Depression. Its effects still persist, with national bankruptcies occurring across Old Europe. While things worsened in The Bahamas, there was no collapse under Ingraham's watch. His stewardship during this period can be added to his list of many accomplishments.
While his successes help to explain why he was a consequential leader, his style of political combat, in part, explains why he is also so controversial.
The former FNM leader had one campaign he used repeatedly against the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) and it worked three out of four times: They are corrupt.
The mighty Lynden Pindling was part deity to many. He was the Moses who led black Bahamians out of bondage. The Ingraham-led FNM used the allegations of drug-related corruption and impropriety regarding the disbursement of public funds in the run-up to the 1992 election not only to defeat Pindling, but to also re-write his legacy.
Commissions of inquiry and the persistent bludgeoning narrative that Pindling and the PLP were corrupt have led many young Bahamians today to regard Sir Lynden as more of a drug dealer mob boss than a legendary leader.
The attacks on the PLP did not end there, however. When Ingraham's friend Perry Christie became PLP leader and the two squared off in 2007, Ingraham went directly at him. He tore his friend down by branding him as lazy and inadequate.
The attack narrative was harsher in 2012. This time he essentially questioned Christie's integrity regarding his work as a consultant for an oil company, while also reminding the country that Christie was near useless as a leader.
Along with Christie, Bradley Roberts and Shane Gibson were favorite targets of Ingraham in recent years.
The intensity and persistence of his deeply personal attacks was married with a seeming anger. While Ingraham was mostly successful in felling his enemies over the years, or at least critically wounding them, his style also nurtured much anger, and in some cases hatred, in those on the other side.

Setting an example for the future
In this context saying goodbye to Ingraham in Parliament is not simple.
Many in that place on the PLP side despise him. Some think he should be subjected to commissions of inquiry as Sir Lynden was subjected to and that his legacy should be torn down with the same ruthlessness he used to bludgeon PLPs.
Via this thinking, the only words that should be uttered from the governing side about the former prime minister would be based in contempt, making Ingraham's last day in the House a verbal crucifixion.
But where would that leave us as a country? What example would that give to future generations? What culture would that help solidify in this young democracy?
Ingraham should be subjected to reasonable analysis by those who speak of him. The good and the bad should be laid out, presenting the full picture of a complicated and extraordinary man.
The instinct by some to embarrass the former leader should be resisted. But for this to happen, Ingraham too must be sober in his remarks and tone. At his press conference at the House on Thursday "the pit bull" returned. Ingraham launched a series of passionate attacks on the PLP. If he decides to say goodbye to Parliament in this manner, the occasion would be lessened and he would harm his legacy.

Final words
The Bahamas is in a precarious place. Its economy is weak; it has a crime problem; too many of our young people are poorly socialized to the point of being nearly feral. Our ship of state is sailing in the darkness on no discernible course.
A goodbye from a father of the nation will have the attention of the nation. People at work will turn on their televisions. Those in cars will turn to the public broadcaster to listen. It is rare for anyone to have such an audience.
Along with stating his accomplishments and discussing regrets, I hope the former prime minister speaks to some of his aspirations for The Bahamas and too warns of some of the dangers he sees in the culture and in his people.
I hope too that he speaks to this and the next generation of politicians about commitment to public life. Ingraham, Christie and Pindling were never really lawyers by profession. They were politicians. Whatever your view of the trio, they dedicated a lifetime to public service. Many who like to criticize them would never offer one minute of their time to the common man unless they are to be paid handsomely for it.
The former prime minister is a captivating and fierce man. We the pundits will miss him. He has an obvious love for politics. Those who want to be prime minister someday should know that that love for the fight that is politics is necessary if you are to make it to the top.
Ingraham often says that you don't make yourself prime minister, people do. This is true. His people made him prime minister three times. He should be proud that he was able to earn our trust that many times. And we should say thank you to him for all he has done.
Leadership is not easy. It is lonely and usually takes out of the person more than it gives. Hopefully in his retirement, the Delivery Boy, the Pit Bull, Papa is able to get some rest.

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