It'll make your day

April 15, 2009

Dear Sir

This is the most heart-warming thing that I have ever seen....

Susan Boyle appeared recently on the television show 'Britain's Got Talent'. This is a TV show similar to 'American Idol'.

She is a 47-year-old lady from Lothian, Scotland. She encountered snears and giggles from the audience and judges when she announced that she wants to be a professional singer, and that she is going to sing 'I Had A Dream' on the show. The song has a wide vocal range and is very difficult to sing especially for an amateur.

The judges and audience were just waiting, WAITING for her to make a total mess of the song and then laugh at her.

She NAILED that song!!

She opened her mouth to sing and the most beautiful singing voice emerged. The judges' mouths hung open in awe, the audience stopped giggling, and whistled and cheered. She received a standing ovation! Since appearing on BGT she has been interviewed by several UK television channels and she is 'in talks' with Sony Music!!

Go Susan!! You are an inspiration.

The video is available on You Tube by searching 'Susan Boyle'. Please readers, please watch it, it will make you feel warm and make your day!

BLOWN AWAY

Smith's

To watch her performance go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxPZh4AnWyk

n See story today in Lifestyle, page 33

Raleigh training success

April 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

From April 5-9, Raleigh Bermuda hosted a training camp that took 13 young Bermudian participants on an adventure and physical challenge across the Island – from Somerset to St. David's. I would like to publicly thank all of the individuals and organisations that partnered with Raleigh to make this possible.

A big thank you to Troy Berkeley of Sandys Community Centre; Mark Norman of Outward Bound; JP Skinner and Megan of BIOS; Sergeant Edward Peach and the Bermuda Marine Police Department; Deb Gravelle and Alfred of Bermuda Sailing Association; Joshua Hill, Ian Birch, Barbara, and the Olympic Club Climbing Wall; Carol Green; Dueane Dill; Ashley Phipps; and our chairman Michael Spurling. The combined support of those mentioned provided general assistance, shelter, equipment, activities, safety, food, and water.

We would also like to thank those whose names we do not know: individuals who, when driving past our group that was walking on tired, blistered feet, honked horns of support and gave wide berth. Thank you for helping to encourage and motivate our young people! Additionally, we are grateful for the ongoing work of the Parks Department – we saw first hand at Chaplin Bay, Watch Hill Park, and Ferry Reach the great work you do to keep our island's parks in tip-top shape.

"Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success." (Henry Ford)

KRISTIN WHITE

Executive Director

Raleigh International Bermuda

Blatantly Avoiding Duty

April 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

Clearly the acronym B.A.D. should not stand for "Bermudians Against the Draft" but rather "Blatantly Avoiding Duty".

The young men involved in this movement cite an imperialistic colonial legacy and having to sign an oath to the Queen as the driving factors behind why they should not be conscripted into service. Therefore, I pose this question to the young men; if you were signing an oath to Bermuda would you change your minds? I doubt you would because when you serve you're actually serving your brothers and sisters in Bermuda, not the Queen regardless of what the oath states.

The Bermuda Regiment isn't for everyone but you have alternatives available to you. I went through the process and signed that same oath to the Queen and was later deferred to the St. John Ambulance Brigade where I am performing my service. Some of my friends elected to join the Bermuda Reserve Police Service and others spent their time in the Bermuda Regiment. One way or the other we're giving back to the community.

I'll be the first one to admit that when I saw my name in the newspaper after I turned eighteen I cringed. Looking back on it now, if my name hadn't appeared in the newspaper I wouldn't have had the life experiences that I have, I wouldn't have the skill sets that I have, I wouldn't have some of the friends that I have and I wouldn't have the feeling of knowing I've made a difference in people's lives along the way.

If you didn't want to serve in the Regiment you could have served in some other capacity and the Regiment would have more than likely been happy to allow you to do so. Unfortunately, you have probably closed the door on those options by spending so much time trying to avoid it.

Think of what a difference you all could have made if half the time and effort you've put into avoiding service went into serving the community.

I will however say that there is no reason why young women of the appropriate age range should not also be made to serve, perhaps not in the Regiment but possibly giving time at the hospital or seniors' homes for example. Also the practice should include all persons when they turn 18, not be based on luck of the draw. On those points I am in agreement with BAD.

AARON W. BURROWS

Sandys