April 14, 2012Dear Sir,In the wake of the ‘Broadside’, I have been stirred to go on record.According to what I’ve read in The Royal Gazette, the tide of opinion has been against the acceptance of the Uighurs. That tide does not include me. From the outset, I have been proud and excited by former Premier Dr Brown’s acceptance of those unfortunate men. Proud of his defiance and excited by the generosity of his decision.While I would accept that the Guantánamo Bay situation was in the lap of the US, still, when asked to help, how could we turn against those four men and also against the US who for so long and in large measure have been great friends of us?The matter (in 20-20 hindsight) could have been handled differently. Perhaps the Deputy Premier and the Cabinet could have been informed and then sworn to secrecy.I remember the speculation as to what reward Dr Brown received for his action. My thought at the time was, and still is, that even if it were unspoken, the reward would be that Bermuda’s interests would be looked out for whenever the need would arise.I know, of course, that many people are exercised by the unconstitutionality of the decision. For my part, it has galled and saddened me that so many hold our constitution as sacred, but fail to view the Bible in the same high regard. My feeling would run that way because my life has been profoundly touched by the gospel of Jesus Christ whom I accepted into my life as my Saviour and Lord more than 50 years ago.I see that my views often run against the current — as I recall the time that Bermuda’s choice of a Chief Justice was changed by Britain. I was offended by that but felt that Britain was poking at us a bit to see how we would react.In the same vein, when talk of layoffs and shorter work weeks, etc had come to the fore, I remember asking in a public meeting why from the Governor down should not lead by taking a pay cut.There, now I’ve said it. I won’t have to lie awake.HELENE STEPHENSON