Tough questions

February 20, 2009

Dear Sir,

Considering the lack of influence that I have on segregationists in Bermuda, my own country, a (Christian?) democracy (?), what makes Uncommon Sense (Royal Gazette, February 18) think that it would be worth my effort to address the more difficult issue of slavery in a country in the distant continent of Africa where there is a dictator and no pretence to be a (Christian?) democracy?

EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish

Of vinegar and honey

February 22, 2009

Dear Sir,

I have decided to respond to Douglas DeCouto, who took me to task regarding my response to the Governor's statement, at the "Sally Bassett" memorial in one of your recent editions.

In my view, if the Governor's statement had contained a little more "vinegar", to borrow DeCouto's metaphor, such as giving a clear indication that he was referring to those white Bermudians who have been so vehemently opposed to the statue in the first place, then it is likely that his remarks would not have come across as ambiguously and as nuanced as they did, thereby clouding his alleged meaning, as DeCouto has discerned it. Certainly, that bit of meaning escaped most people at the event. However, I am sure that if he did, DeCouto would have been attacking him with the "vinegar" charge, rather than myself.

But that is only one part of the story, for whether intentionally or not – and I am prepared to give the Governor the benefit of the doubt on this score – he laid out in his remarks a moral equivalence, that many, including some whites, found invidious, most notably Tom Vesey by way of a recent column. The reference to the Confederate Civil War General Robert E. Lee of course was even more problematic in my view, a fact that Mr. DeCouto with his usual jeremiad against me and our work on this score, conveniently avoided mentioning in his letter. Contrary to what DeCouto would assert, it appears that for a large number of white Bermudians, the only 'honey', again to use his metaphor, which would be acceptable with respect to race relations, would be not to talk about it at all.

ROLFE COMMISSIONG, JP

Consultant to the Premier of Bermuda

A more worthwhile idea

February 25, 2009

Dear Sir,

Eddie Lamb tells it like it really is but the problem we have is that it will take far too long to change this culture and we will lose far too many kids, mostly but not only from black families, while we wait and talk about it. Any person with an ounce of eyesight can tell you that these kids are learning bad habits and getting a real good example of what you need in order to fail in our world. And they are learning them from their family; their friends; and their environment.

The solution is to take them out of what most civilised humans believe is a bad environment and put them in a good one. Take them from their homes and put them in a structured educational environment and call it a "boarding school". We should do this when they are really young and before the weed smoking, gangsta-rapping, unemployed, gang member, so-called parents get their teeth into them. We actually do capture a few of them when it's Regiment time but many escape and by then it's probably too late anyway.

We have the space, we just need the money. We have the people to teach them life skills, we just need a will to do it. There are massive and long lasting benefits to this idea. We, as a country, have better law abiding and productive citizens. The kids will have a better chance of succeeding and being productive in the careers that are offered in Bermuda. The families will have better kids who will provide a better example to their own kids. If ever there was a great idea – this is it!

We have tons of space near the Bermuda College do you think that land and the buildings are fully utilised by the numbers who attend there now? We could develop the Regiment property for primary use as a boarding school (maybe just five days, weekends at home) and secondary use as a training school. Seriously, if we start giving kids a good foundation for life at, say, 12 or 13 rather than training them at 18 for war ... is this not a more worthwhile idea? Plus it's time to offer community service rather than military service as an alternative to just doing the same old, tired thing we've been doing for years at the Regiment in the name of ... what? If we can find $90 million to build a bridge; tens of millions to fund all sorts of sport teams; millions to build buildings and docks and whatever else we need that has no benefit whatsoever to the better education of our people. If we can find the money to do all those things and we have private sector benefits from all this... I guarantee that we can find the money to take our children out of disastrous environments and put them in one which will allow them at least a fighting chance ...

I cannot end without asking the question of your readers. When you hear about a kid getting dropped off at school from a car with tinted windows, gangsta rap loud music and weed aroma pouring from it; when you hear about a ten-year-old who shares his single parents (Mom's) bed and then he has to go to school the next day, probably with no real meal in his belly, and compete with other kids; when you hear about kids exposed to drugs, alcohol, fighting between adults, a gang culture, and no supervision, no academic support, no proper meals – do you not get entirely angry? Do you not wonder why a Government of the people can build buildings and make their own supporters wealthy but don't seem to care a damn about better ideas for developing a decent life for our kids. Don't you get mad?

AUNT POLLY

Southampton

Legal, but inconsiderate

February 24, 2009

Dear Sir,

Sunday morning, while driving along Harbour Road on our way to church we came upon four Lance Armstrong look-alikes riding west, side by each (as the Newfies put it). Every minute or so one car was able to accelerate past this lot as another would take a place at the rear of the growing queue. While not illegal, it is most inconsiderate to have six vehicles averaging 20 kph or less held up by these "fancies". Ever think of single file?

It is also completely stupid because tempers wear thin on the car's side while preservation of rights is equally enforced on the other. Sooner or later someone, likely on the lighter vehicle, will get killed and it won't matter much who is in the wrong. Reminds me of the story of Mr. Ray, who died defending his right of way. He was right, dead right, as he sped along, but he's just as dead as if he were wrong. Now what's with those girly costumes? Blues, reds, blacks, stripes etc. This isn't the Tour de France! What if you have to stop for a coffee or a newspaper or a flat and have to go into a shop? Do you carry some form of cover up? Surely you wouldn't be seen standing in public so garbed?

In the 1990s, I rode my bike for an hour three mornings a week. I wore khakis or shorts and a golf shirt and if I had to stop or shop I could do so without attracting sideways glances and giggles. My brother-in-law at 77 rides his bike six hours a day, six days a week and wears khakis and a sweater. I'm sure other road users would greatly appreciate your consideration if you were to be more conscious of assisting the flow of traffic.

ARCY W

Paget

P.s. If you can turn right on a red in Canada and the US, why can't we turn left on a red in Bermuda? It would assist traffic flow.

Cut yesterday's rhetoric

February 25, 2009

Dear Sir,

Bermudians have to face the stark reality that we must attract wealth to the Island through a win-win proposal with the "wealthy". To define "wealthy" – it does not mean "white", "black", "yellow" or any other skin shade, nor does it solely mean financial wealth. "Wealth" means access to those individuals who have an interest in the environment and community that is Bermuda and the disposable means to invest in our country's future in either a monetary or intangible way (e.g. unique skills/invention/influence/etc). Suffice to say, it is this "invest in Bermuda and Bermudians for the privilege to reside alongside us in Bermuda" concept, that Bermudians must promote; after all Bermuda is our greatest untapped asset!

To be successful in such a competitive and stringent economic climate and to influence the World's retirement community (which holds a significant portion of the World's "wealth" in finances and influence), we must seek to embrace what every race and every person can bring to our community. Exclusion has hurt Bermuda in the past, and it continues to limit our full potential today. If we all truly are interested in ensuring our futures then we must rise up and not lend credence to the racially charged rhetoric that fill the headlines of newscasts and political speeches.

Instead, we need to think clearly about what an influx of Bermudian-targeted wealth in investment, skill set and influence would mean to Bermudians. We need to also consider the demographics of the World and how we can take advantage of this; for example: why can't we be the premier health care service provider/incubator for the World and achieve 100 percent, unconditional health care coverage for all Bermudians (young or old) in the process? Why can't our people be the brightest and best health care experts in the World? We have the environment, we have the climate, we have the best raw materials (our children); we have success stories (e.g. Dr. Daniel Stovell); we have the most caring population on the planet – so what do we lack?

Simply put? We lack the resolve to make an important and fundamental change. We all need to recognise that blaming someone for something that happened in the past and adding racially-charged rhetoric to entice fears (real or perceived) in our people has effectively worked as a misdirection, so our problems go unsolved whilst we continue to waste energy and capability in talking and debating over who is to blame. So how do we get past this? Simple: a wise man once said:

"If you like positivity: then accept that we are all to blame and actively work to solve the problem.

"If you like negativity: then blame someone for solving the problem (not for creating the problem).

"This way we all get what we want emotionally out of the deal and the problem is solved either way."

So let us all make a promise to each other today:

We promise to abandon and ignore the rhetoric of yesterday (and today) and instead we embrace the ownership for solving of our problems. Whilst we realise that this will take a strong commitment and a true love of the people and community of Bermuda so as to put her and her people first, we must first surrender to the fact that we are also members of the human race and the World at large. So let's aggressively seek out the brightest, the best, the most influential, the most generous – in other words, the most "Bermudian-like" citizens of the World.

Let's encourage then to invest in us and come and live alongside of us. We have a lot to teach them and they have much to teach us. Let's commit to making those who love us, our children, our community and our way of life – "Bermudians" – even if that distinction comes through a significant investment in our country and our community through transfer of wealth in assets, skill sets or influence – versus only being a right of birth.

CAN'T WE ALL BE "BERMUDIAN"?

Warwick