Fog lights misuse

August 15, 2008

Dear Sir,

The UK's Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations state that front fog lamps may not be used at any time other than in conditions of seriously reduced visibility; which means fog, not darkness or the fact that the driver is blind drunk.

If that is the law in a country that actually has fog, one would hope that the law in Bermuda is equally restrictive.

This is a safety issue. Fog lamps are low-slung and undipped, so dazzle on-coming drivers.

If you want to use fog lamps, please have them rewired so that they go off when you dip your headlamps.

Yours seeing the light,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

Bringing up our boys

August 14, 2008

Dear Sir,

I think it would be very worthwhile to look into the possibility of setting up community homes for young people – particularly boys. There are many parents – both married and single – who are unable to cope with their children. The main element missing in the lives of these young people is discipline. The community homes should be run by trained persons; it would probably take several father figures. There should also be a motherly figure on hand to supervise the cooking and housekeeping which should be done by the boys themselves. To be successful, the home should be away from the environment in which the boys lived before. "Back in the Day", we had the Nonsuch Training School for Boys' which I think was very successful at least between 1934 and 1958 under Arthur St. George Tucker and wife Elsie. (Royal Gazette, August 30, 2005, search under the heading 'Taking a new approach')

Successful community homes are a huge undertaking and will not come cheap. Advertising for a house manager for $60,000 p.a. would be a start! Funds are available from this Government for other, far less important things. It is crucial that we have the 'right stuff' to staff the home, otherwise it is money wasted and /or misused. Let us ask for guidance from programmes like Boys and Girls Clubs of America, or the Bermuda Nonsuch Training School as it was in its early days.

We must do something innovative. The lives and future of our boys – and Bermuda – are in the balance. What could be more important? The same is true for our young girls but, at the moment, they are not quite so vulnerable as the boys. Probably it would be best to concentrate on boys aged 11-14. We may have lost the 15s and older already. The 'children' are looking for a home, a place to belong; hence the popularity of gangs. It is understandable that the kids play these 'take your trophy bling' games. This is kid stuff over the decades. The big difference is that now a contention leads to knives, and helmets used as bludgeons – indeed, murder weapons.

How much has this Government spent on frivolous items lately? Beyonce and Alicia Keys, MPs' trips to exotic places, expensive cars, etc. C'mon, Ewart, put your money where your mouth is.

UNCOMMON SENSE

St. George's

Paradise lost

August 15, 2008

Dear Sir,

This an open letter to the Honourable Premier

Dear Dr. Brown,

What on earth is happening to our beloved island? We are losing our Promise, our young people to the gun, the knife, drugs, and to prison. The view from abroad is one of great alarm and depression. I can only imagine how you must feel as these things are happening on your watch. We are reading headlines more typical of the LA Times. "Five Teens charged with Murder!" "Man killed while sleeping in his bed during broad daylight!" "Man shot in neck while wearing bullet-proof jacket!" "Man shot in drive-by shooting!" "Man shot in chest at point blank range."

Economically, Bermuda seems to be the envy of the world, but I am reminded of the following, and I paraphrase: "What benefit is it to gain the whole world but to lose one's soul?" Bermuda, I am very concerned to say, appears to be fast losing its very soul. We have moved a great distance from when we could sing proudly that ours was another world. Ours was a world of gentleness and kindness and caring for one another. I grew up in an era when years would pass without a person losing his life at the hands of another.

Those days were also significant for the fact that it was never necessary to lock one's house. In fact, at our house our back door didn't even have a lock. I accept that we have moved on as time stands still for no one. However, we seem to be importing the very worst of American culture that for some peculiar reason our young people seem to find attractive.

I have no idea of what the Government considers its priorities at the moment, but it seems to me that we must all drop whatever we are doing and rally round. Our young people need us. The senseless killing of Kellon Hill is a clarion call for the Island to roll up its sleeves and come to terms with the direction in which we are headed, which is towards the abyss. These headlines clearly cannot be left to stand unchallenged.

Overseas such developments in Bermuda are being discussed in the context of Paradise Lost. For those of us who love our native island our sense of loss, even this far from home is very personal.

You, sir, cannot be expected to fix matters on your own. It is not a political matter, so therefore you will need the assistance of your political opposition, and the churches and clubs, the schools and parents. It is certainly a time for talking. I mean real talk followed by real action. The reason I am directing this to you is you hold the uncomfortable mantle of Leader, and it is from you that we expect the statesman-like leadership of which we know you to be capable.

There is another quote that I wish to borrow: "Cometh the moment, cometh the Man." This can be your finest hour should you wish to seize the moment.

EUGENE W. CARMICHAEL

A Bermudian Expat

Valencia, Spain

Our responsibility

August 14, 2008

Dear Sir,

Even before last weekend's tragic event where the life of a young man was ended, I was concerned about some very negative trends that seem to have become the norm in Bermuda. The increasing levels of both madness and malaise spell disaster for the health and well-being of this country.

I felt encouraged by the thoughtful comments of Stuart Hayward and Marc Bean. I too believe that the problems of the youth in this community are directly and undeniably related to the problems of the adults in this community. We have broken homes, broken promises and daily examples of adults behaving badly. Until the people who bring children into the world are held accountable for those children, nothing will change for either.

In a November 2002 article in The Royal Gazette it was suggested that legislation was to be introduced to make parents legally responsible for the actions of their children, in an effort to improve behaviour in schools. I don't know if that legislation was ever put in place but if it was, it needs to be bolstered so that it is made absolutely clear to parents that their priorities are automatically re-ordered once their child is born. If that proposed legislation is still sitting on a shelf somewhere collecting dust we must evidence our commitment to resolving this social problem by updating it and adopting it as soon as is practicable. I don't think there can really be any argument that if you have a child, you must accept that you are responsible for him or her for at least 21 years; there is no cherry-picking in parenthood.

One of the biggest hurdles for us is that, for the most part, the only measure of "success" we hold up relates to financial and material achievement and many things, including the pride and commitment required in the raising of our children, have been abandoned in pursuit of the almighty dollar and a fickle sense of self-worth. With the vision for a healthy community, we will need to develop measures for success in being a good citizen, a good leader, a good man, a good woman, a good teacher, a good student, a good family and a good neighbour.

I am troubled at the expressions by callers to the talk shows that the only thing missing from modern-day parenting is that children aren't 'beaten' any more. It is already documented; children are beaten every day in our country, both emotionally and physically, so let's raise ourselves above this very old-fashioned belief. It is my opinion that the way to teach children about actions and consequences is through love and commitment, not belts and oleander whips.

In a 2003 article about the need for us to dig deep to find the roots of youth violence, Bryant Trew concluded by saying that "it is the responsibility of adults to firstly guide our children, secondly determine what they get exposed to and thirdly determine what is actually allowed… in the absence of committed parents, children will be adopted by the street and be guided by popular culture." Stedman Graham is known to have said: "If you don't teach your children, the world will eat them up!" And, I'm sorry to say, that's exactly what is happening.

So what will it be Bermuda? There should be a lot of money in our Government coffers so let's put that money where our mouth is and make some real change… for a change.

In closing, I do want to extend my heartfelt condolences to the parents and family of Kellon Hill. If for no other reason, let's do this as a tribute to him.

KIM SMITH

Pembroke