Time for gallows

August 14, 2008

Dear Sir,

Another life has been lost and there is much talk of a Big Conversation. I recall a few years ago, there was concern about Gang Violence in Bermuda. That concept was swept under the carpet by some members on both sides of the House and also by some so called Christian leaders.

Violence is nothing new. It has been around since Cain murdered Abel. Violence is here to stay. However, steps must be taken to send a clear message to those of us who make the decision to perform violent acts. Violence in no way shape or form should be tolerated.

It is high time that our leaders, especially church leaders, take a stand to stem the wave of crime that is taking our Bermuda by storm. Let us stop pretending that we live in a humane society. Until an example is made of murderers, things are going to get worse.

Sir, we do not need any Big Conversation. What we need is a gallows in every Parish as a warning.

JOSHUA RICHARDSON

Pembroke

Pensioners going broke

August 14, 2008

Dear Sir,

Bermuda Housing has always been there to help the senior citizens live with a bit of security in their golden years, but the rents for their units have more than doubled in the past three years and are beyond many of their pensions that they receive monthly.

My friends are senior citizens in their late 70s and live a very simple life but now have to find employment again as do many who live at Elizabeth Hills, Hayden and Purvis Park to afford the rent, hospital insurance, Belco, telephone and doctor's fees which allow them to live debt free and with some dignity.

The seniors were informed that if they wish to complain about the rent increase it will cost them another $30 to do so. If they had an extra $30, they would spend it buying groceries to allow them to make a lunch to eat while they are employed.

So let me thank Bermuda Housing Corporation for helping the senior citizens go broke, and I am also reminded of the old saying: "With friends like these, who needs enemies."

ALMOST THERE, BUT NOT SENILE YET

St. David's

Kids at violent movie

August 18, 2008

Dear Sir,

In the wake of the death of Kellon Hill there has been much discussion about how the community should respond. I think a good start would be for us to abandon the principle of non-interference in how other people raise their kids.

As parents, we have primary responsibility for raising our children, and should always be given the first chance to do so. However, when we are unable or unwilling we should expect to be called on it by others.

An example: Yesterday evening I went to a showing of The Dark Knight at the Little Theatre. Although rated PG-13 ("Parents strongly cautioned: Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13"), two sets of parents had brought their young children (I estimated they were between 6 and 10 years old) to see it.

When it got to the scene where the Joker was threatening to cut one character's mouth with a knife and talking about how he put razor blades in his mouth to disfigure himself, the mother sitting in front of us took her three children out of the theatre and didn't come back.

I applauded her action.

In contrast, the other family stayed for the whole movie. The mother even laughed during some of the more sadistic scenes. I can't imagine what those kids felt watching it, but judging by their restlessness, I think they would rather have not been there.

By the end of the movie I was so angry at those parents for taking their children to see that film that I was ready to confront them. To my shame, I did not move fast enough and they had left the theatre before I had chance to speak to them.

I don't blame the Little Theatre for letting them in. Children are even allowed in R-rated movies if accompanied by an adult. But perhaps local theatres should stop families taking under-age children into a movie and tell them about its content in an effort to dissuade them.

Perhaps there's even a case for legislation to make age restrictions on movies mandatory, even if an adult is present.

The principle that parents should be allowed to raise their children as they see fit assumes a basic common sense that sadly some parents lack. When we see parents failing in their duty to raise their kids responsibly, the rest of us have an obligation to step in.

PHILIP WELLS

St. George's

Instil values in kids

August 14, 2008

Dear Sir,

First of all, let me say how horrible I feel about young Kellon Hill's death and my heart goes out to his family – I can't imagine the hurt they are experiencing right now. I've read the letters in today's Royal Gazette and I agree with some of the points made, but I feel that overall we are focusing on the wrong reasons these things happen.

My own son is in his early 20s. If you look at him according to his background, he should be another statistic out there wasting his life. He was born to a 16-year-old mother, he listens to rap, hip hop etc. and constantly watches BET and MTV, and he plays so many violent video games that he should be a serial killer by now.

I gave him nice clothes and lots of toys when he was growing up, bought him cell phones, electronic games, etc. and I hung a gold chain around his neck when he was only a baby. Instead of turning into this horrible person out there getting in trouble, he's now a civil servant working in law enforcement helping to keep the rest of us safe.

I'm not going to make out like I was some perfect mother – I wasn't even particularly strict. However, even though I was young, two things that I instilled in my son were compassion and conscience. I always tried to make him understand and consider the feelings of others. When my son was little and he'd do something, I'd say to him 'how would you feel if they did it to you – you wouldn't like that now would you?' It would make him stop and think. A lot of these kids who are acting out couldn't care less about other people. They just have this selfish 'me, me, me' mentality.

Lots of these parents are worse than the kids. Some parents encourage their kids to fight, thinking they're teaching their kids to "stand up for their rights". What happened to talking out your problems? Any idiot can fight someone. It takes real brains and maturity to sit down and talk out your differences but people just don't want to do that. Also, when it comes to giving kids these material things, I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Where it becomes wrong is when you reward kids with material things whether they do good or bad. It teaches them that they don't have to make any effort to be good because they'll get what they want anyway.

My son says all the time that I used to bribe him to be good and I guess I did. If he was a good boy all week I'd take him to the toy store on the Saturday to get a little treat. I'm sure that it must have killed him sometimes to have to behave, but he'd picture his reward and most of the time he did. Conversely, if he misbehaved he'd be on punishment, I'd take things away and he knew he wouldn't be going to the toy store no matter how much he cried and begged. He obviously didn't like this so he tried to avoid letting that happen.

Values need to be instilled in kids while they're young. Kids need to know how hard the parents worked to give them what they have. They need to know that these things didn't just drop out of the sky. They need to know that life doesn't work like that and that life isn't easy. If they aren't told that then they'll always be looking for the easy way out. If they're not taught that and they can't afford something but they want it, then they'll just go and take it.

Also, when your kid comes home with something that you know that you or a relative didn't buy for them – make them return it! Even small children sometimes take things that don't belong to them such as a toy they want but belongs to a classmate. As a parent it is our job to march them into school the next day and have them hand it back over to their classmate.

If we don't get our children under control, then may God have mercy on Bermuda because the day will come when we are afraid to even leave our homes. Did we in Bermuda ever think we'd see the day when adults had to fear young people?

The only way that Bermuda can get on track is if we parents do the job that we committed to when we had these kids. To blame Government or anyone else is just a cop-out. The blame rests solely on our shoulders. This is a scripture from Nahum 2:4: 'The chariots (Police cars, ambulances) shall rage (always be going) in the streets, they shall justle one against another (so many of them) in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches (flashing sirens), they shall run like the lightnings (speed).' This sounds eerily like it was written for today, doesn't it?

FEARFUL FOR THIS GENERATION

Hamilton Parish

P.s. To Ms Williams: It's customary in Bermuda in black and Portuguese families to give infants and children gifts of jewellery.

Too short of time

August 16, 2008

Dear Sir,

As a three-time cruise ship visitor to your wonderful Island, I read your article 'Retailers concerned over declining cruise ship trade' with considerable interest. Our first two cruises from Norfolk, Virginia stayed in your ports three and four nights respectively. Since the three-night rule was eliminated, our 2008 cruise from Norfolk was only in port one night.

The short stay was okay, in its own way. However,as we had so little time, we never even made it to Hamilton on this trip. On the past trips, we had enjoyed the city shopping and the museum there.

The Dockyard is a fine place to dock and the bus/ferry system gives great access to the entire island but there is no way to take full advantage of them and experience the island adequately in a roughly 30-hour period.

A US-BERMUDA FAN

Time to pray

August 13, 2008

Dear Sir,

Let's all stand in agreement in the name of Jesus ... Bow our heads and pray, touch and agree ... Father God in the Holy Name of Jesus I ask you to touch the Hill family ... Touch each heart... Touch them with the blood of Jesus ... Fill their hearts with peace and love ... Fill their grieving spirit with comfort, Lord ... Father in the Name of Jesus we seek Justice and peace in this land called Bermuda.

For the wicked may your hearts be cleaned and washed ... May your knees be bent and heads be bowed and you turn away from your wickedness and repent to the God who made you ...

Father God in the Name of Jesus May Justice be served this day... For the Hill family, for Kellon. In the name of Jesus...

The Word says: "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths " Proverbs 3:6 ...

2 Timothy 2:15, Study to show thyself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth ...

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness.

For the Christians ... Pray that the world would see you different from them and that they will see Jesus in you wherever you may go ... Let them fill and see God's presence in you ... So they to can taste and see that Jesus Christ is Lord ... Be blessed.

CAMMIE CAINES

Paget

Chain snatching

August 11, 2008

Dear Sir,

Chain snatching has been happening for some time now. The chains being ripped of innocent young boys is just now becoming more and more prevalent. My son three years ago had this happen to him at Harbour Nights with his friends, casually walking and enjoying themselves, up comes three boys, in a split second they rip his chain from his neck,and snatch his iPod. No time to respond, Police were called immediately as my son ran to a police officer.

We did a report immediately that night and one week later I gave the Police the name of one suspect, address and all, three weeks later I saw the other youth, made a threat, and he sang like a bird. Reported it to the Police, still to no avail.

There's too much hard crime to stop the small crimes, They say the Police are short of manpower and you can't really blame them. Blame the system for lack of enforcement.

Now that small matter has gone crazy. The same guys who robbed my son are still out there doing crime. If the Police would have had the manpower to stop the first four or so who did this to my son three years ago then that is a start to deter the next generation of young idiots.

VERY ANGRY PARENT