Insurer departure

June 8, 2008

Dear Sir,

We all must congratulate our Leader, the Honorable Dr. Brown for, yet again, another bunch of firsts.

Our Man of Action and his cronies have successfully presided over the first departure of a major insurer.

The Man and his cronies are directly responsible for solving these major problems:

• Lack of office space solved.

• Over-employment replaced by unemployment. Excellent as expats depart.

• Bermudian males mentored to fill non-existent jobs.

• Housing crisis solved. Plenty of cheap rentals and houses for sale now.

• Narrowing the wealth gap by making us all poorer.

• Efficient Policing, Judiciary and Justice responsible to the Man alone.

• Creating harmony by stifling all debate.

• CURE'ing the race debate by not debating and ignoring the truth.

• Ensuring Bermuda's successful move from the First to the Third World.

• Saving Bermudians from the expense of travel. We can stay home to see how the rest of the world lives.

• Saving our Bermuda from any more development.

• Tourism saved. More large hotels closing soon.

• African Diaspora Tourism to build on Faith Based Tourism success.

• Traffic congestion solved. No expats here to drive. We won't afford gas. Got ferries.

All we can say is well done to our homegrown Action Heroes.

I guess we get what we deserve in this life.

GOING DOWN

Smith's Parish

Who is a hypocrite?

June 9, 2008

Dear Sir,

Thank you, Louise Jackson, for letting the Premier know that as a representative of Bermuda, participation in any sort of event that celebrates/utilises/profits from or in part from the sexual exploitation, objectification, or commodification of women is completely inappropriate.

No thanks to you, Glenn Blakeney, who seems to feel that it's an apt analogy to tenuously string a relationship between participation in an event that objectifies women and the passing of a bill (the Stubbs Bill) that decriminalised homosexual sex. Mr. Blakeney said: "It astounds me that (Louise Jackson) would be so hypocritical (in speaking about morality). Those members on the other side were among some of those who passed the Stubbs Bill."

Mr. Blakeney, when you can demonstrate, without relying on the homophobia, sensationalism, and ignorance that this Government is known for, that the legalising of what two fully consenting human beings do in the privacy of their own homes is tantamount to the end of morality ... when you can show that a person's sexual orientation, whether determined by biology or choice, warrants Government-sanctioned discrimination in housing, public services, or employment ... when you can justify to those affected by you and your Government's ignorance, cowardice, and collective blind eye that denying them of their basic human rights in their own country is moral and just... then you may even fathom of being in a moral place that approximates righteous indignation.

How dare you condone "our" Premier's participation in the objectification of women and say that giving someone their just rights is hypocritical.

Until we fully grasp that sexism, homophobia, and racism all stem from hatred, intolerance, and dominance, we can continue to take moral high roads that only lead to democratic dead-ends. It is impossible to believe in equality for Blacks and women but to sanction discrimination against homosexuals. It is impossible to stand for justice but to condone, support, or be compliant with another's marginalisation. When mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles and, dare I say, Ministers and doctors, can condone the unjust treatment of those whom they love and say they serve, we have no sense of morality consistency. Until we can support an amendment to the Human Rights Act to include sexual orientation and to protect the rights of all – indeed, we are hypocrites.

KRYSTL ROBINSON-ASSAN

Toronto, Ontario

Upside down flag

June 9, 2008

Dear Sir,

The Corporation of Hamilton is now flying the Union Jack upside down on Front Street. Are they in that much distress.?

PETE SHAW

City of Hamilton

Listen to race debate

June 8, 2008

Dear Sir,

Why does a Concerned Bermudian of Devonshire (Royal Gazette, June 5) attribute to me something which I did not say? I did not say that all whites were born evil. I do say that they should take responsibility for the actions of their forebears from which they still benefit. If he/she really is "concerned", let me urge him/her to hear Tim Wise on Wednesday, June 11 at the Cathedral Hall and also be sure to hear a lecture on Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome by Dr. Joy Leary which will soon be shown.

Too many people profess to be "concerned" but they are not in the least concerned about the racial divide that has been imposed on this country since 1834, which ensured that all whites and their descendants would enjoy economic and social privileges which were to be deliberately denied to blacks, as long as they can continue to enjoy the privileges and the opportunity to economic benefits which are still being denied to the vast majority of blacks, no matter how much things have changed.

If they were indeed either "concerned" or even mildly interested, many more whites would attend the meetings held by CURB and certainly they would all turn out to hear Tim Wise. That would not mean that they would either change their lives or even accept his point of view. It would mean that they would at least be showing a little "concern" about the deep racial divide and the point of view of the large majority of Black people and the Premier who currently represents them – no matter how much they dislike him or believe that he is corrupt.

Blacks are in the majority and are in political control, even if it does not benefit them economically, and if the majority of whites were not so deeply racist they would, at least, condescend to make a real effort to at least try to understand our point of view, even if they continued to disagree, rather than to continue to rage at Dr. Brown and treat us with the contempt of assuming that they are so much more intellectually and morally superior to most of us.

Tim Wise is a white man so they can assume that he is their intellectual and moral equal. Go to hear him and then someone like Concerned Bermudian and Smith's will not find it necessary to charge me with saying something that I have not said.

EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish

Safety for women

June 9, 2008

Dear Sir,

I write this in response to the loss of another bright young woman, Rihana Moore, who was killed on May 30, 2008. My heart goes out to all of her family and friends whom mourn her. It is especially personal to me, because I know the pain they are experiencing – I lost my mother to a senseless act of violence in 1986 when she was murdered during a break-in at her home. I spent many days and nights since then trying to understand why she was murdered, as I'm sure Rihana's family and friends are also doing.

The simple fact is, that for women, going about their everyday life, going to school, work, church or even simply walking down the street — are high risk activities. The risk of violence, rape and harassment is always present by strangers or men known to them. And no amount of limiting of our personal freedom will reduce this risk. The problem is a society that condones the behaviour of male violence and intimidation against women. The issue is power, not attraction. When a man harasses, molests, rapes or otherwise assaults a woman– it is to establish his dominance over her. Period.

How many women need to die before we take their safety seriously?

Some points to consider:

• Safe and accessible transportation available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• A Task Force in the Police service specifically for sexual assaults. This means rape kits in every police car and comprehensive training for all Police officers in initial dealing with rapes and assaults.

• An advocacy group for victims of sexual harassment and stalking.

• More serious penalties for sexual assaults, sexual harassment and rape.

Community participation in the SPEAK OUT campaign. Tell your stories of harassment, rape, assault and molestation– publicly. Write letters to the editor. Blog about your experiences. Discuss it in church.

It is only by making your voices heard that change can be made for a safer Bermuda. It is time that women are comfortable and safe, and it is the criminals and abusers that are nervous and afraid. Every time someone stands up and speaks out against harassment, rape and assault – another woman's safety and well-being is increased. The opposite is also true. Breaking the silence of victimisation, holding criminals and abusers publicly accountable is the only effective means of change.

It is my sincerest hope that the Moore family will find justice for their daughter's death and that we can prevent this from happening ever again.

ILONA PERRY

New York City