We should not be silent

October 17, 2009

Dear Sir,

I Kings 7:23-24

'Then he made the molten sea; it was round, ten cubits from brim to brim, and five cubits high. A line of thirty cubits would encircle it completely"

'Pastor' Gary Simons (Bermuda Sun: Friday, October 16) 'Evolution, although taught in most of (?) universities around the world, has not been proven, nor is there any proof that an ant evolved into a humpback whale or that a ladybug evolved into a German shepherd."

Can you spot the connection kiddies? Although separated by almost 2,560 years of history, both statements share the common ground of being in the immortal words of Colonel Sherman Potter, complete and utter, "BULLCOOKIES!"

The mathematical ignorance of a Hebrew scribe in 550 BCE certainly goes far in explaining why there were so many punch ups in the ancient market places of old Jerusalem, but how does one explain away such a lack of understanding of evolution in the 21st century? Far from being unproven, the modern synthesis of Darwin/Wallace/ Mendel is probably the most heavily researched/proven theory of all time. I especially enjoyed Mr. Simon's analogy of the 747 jet to explain why evolution is impossible. Briefly put, for life to form by an evolutionary process is about as likely as a 747 jet being formed from a scrap yard by the actions of a hurricane or explosion. Congratulations, you just said that God doesn't exist, for by your own argument, 'God' is the most complex, therefore the most improbable entity of all. 'God' is the ultimate 747. (Thank you, Richard Dawkins!)

Ladies and Gentlemen, for those who want to get their heads straight on this subject once and for all, Mr. Dawkins' latest book, 'the Greatest Show On Earth: The evidence for evolution', is on sale at the Bermuda Book Store, and might I strongly recommend his other book, 'Climbing Mount Improbable' to see how probability applies to the theory of evolution. for a fun guide into the history of science and the shaping of our modern world view, (not to mention some hilarious biographies of some of the people who shaped that view.) Bill Bryson's 'A Short History of Nearly Everything', is also a must-have. (Hannah, any more of this nonsense and I'm going to have to start charging you commission!

Now, pastor Simons indulged in a spot of gay-bashing as well I see. Well, once upon a time, other biblical literalists of the Caucasian-persuasion spent several centuries justifying their atrocious treatment of their fellow men as they were clearly the 'Sons of Ham'. When reason failed, bullets prevailed, or at least forced them to spend another hundred years running around wearing white sheets while setting fire to peoples' houses...

So, maybe we should be a little bit careful about walloping our neighbour without provocation. Especially avoid giving ourselves divine-sanction, after all, it's a rather narrow way to define a whole human being. Ever hear of Alan Turing? One of Britain's greatest mathematicians, Oh, and during the Second World War when this island was surrounded by German U-boats, manned by people of the very Caucasion-persuasion, just who do you think it was who cracked the German's 'Naval Enigma' code? However, poor Alan was as 'queer' as a three dollar bill, so instead of the knighthood he so richly deserved for all the countless lives he saved during that terrible conflict, after the war, he was deemed a potential security risk for blackmail by the KGB after being convicted for his homosexuality. Having lost his security clearance and facing imprisonment, he reluctantly opted for chemical castration by hormone injections, which reduced this former long-distance runner into a balding, overweight shadow of his former self. What massive injections of oestrogen started, cyanide finished on June 7, 1954, alone in his room. Alone.

We all die alone, but some die more lonely than others... Perhaps Mr. Simons and his congregation should offer a little prayer of thanks to the memory of this quiet, gentleman without whose efforts, things would have gone very ill for all of us, and perhaps a few sermons on sympathy, restraint, and avoiding the sin of pride would be in order...

I think in light of the articles I've been reading in the back pages of our local press, we are decades overdue to restore some balance. I think it is high time that the pages devoted to religion should be obliged to rub shoulders with at the very least, one page devoted to science and philosophy. As an appetiser, I think Robert G. Ingersoll would be the perfect way to throw the cat among the pigeons, perhaps other people could offer their own suggestions? (Pssssst... Mark Twain!) I think for too long, too many of us have confused craven appeasement with tolerance, I think the time for silence is over. As so many have worked so hard to be open-minded, it's time to start giving a piece of our minds back if we want to preserve that state of affairs for our children. We should not be silent when hucksters, groupthink, and those who are full of the letter of faith but totally void of it's spirit are running amok. Up and at em.

GLEN LIMA

Paget

Think for yourself

October 21, 2009

Dear Sir,

Thanks for another opportunity to share my opinion in The Royal Gazette. the opinion of my good friend Mr. Swan was well received and the letter today by Pat Ferguson was again well received. Unfortunately there are still too many with their heads in the sand and saying that Dr. Brown is a good man. I am sorry they are out of touch with the reality of Bermuda and its leader who is outstripping Bermuda with burdening loans. We hear of capital projects and their costs, so there is more borrowing and it is about time that the government has to stop and think. Let me remind those who think so highly of the leader that when he steps down and takes his extended vacations, where will you all be, and what will you be left with? He will be laying back with that same smile on his face and you will be left holding the bag of emptiness and false hope that he planted in your minds.

Let us look at the golf tournament and the cost to the taxpayers. And to make it look good the pretentious sale of tickets and in the end the give away of those same tickets. Why? To make the filming look good, because after all it would not look good for the Tourism Minister (your Dr. Brown). He will not give us any figures on expenditures and just for once have you asked yourself why? Do you not know that it is our money and our debt and we have to pay it off. Or at the rate he is going maybe he will just turn the country over to the loan country to defray cost (the borrowed money). This may seem a bit far fetched, but who knows the mind of he that has a mind to get even at any cost. the memories of the 1960s are burning deep in this man's mind and with him someone is going to pay.

As I look back on the last day of the Grand Slam as he stood waiting to take centre stage. There is only one person in his world of mirrors, him. For more on this person read James 1:19-25 and if we applied ourselves to the Bible we will learn about many things that are taking place right now. Let us look at Ephesians 4:11-14, but look very closely at verse 14 and be honest with your self at what your read. This man lacks the qualities of a good leader who should be upright in integrity and honesty. He is always hiding and then he cuts everybody down that does not go along with him. It could be the Governor, the Mother Country and those around him, indirectly saying if you are not with me your are against me. Now he is happy that the Mid-Ocean News has closed and not a thought about the loss of jobs and this is what you are calling a good man?

Remember what goes around comes around and your turn maybe on its way. Be careful what you ask for. We all suffer from something psychologists call fundamental attribution error. It works like this: if something good happens in my life I tend to explain it by taking credit for it. But if I fail, I explain it by blaming my circumstances. Now I give you three guesses and the first two do not count who does this sounds like. So readers think for yourself and examine yourselves to see if you can find the truth in yourselves and if so ask yourself this question "Is this what I am looking for in the leader of my country?"

As a foot note: On the last day when he should have been down on the ground with his (people) he was riding around in a golf cart.

A.E. WENDELL (SCOPSIE) HASSELL

Sandys

BDA supporter speaks

November 13, 2009

Dear Sir,

As a constituent of Shawn Crockwell J.P., M.P. I have written promising him my support and support for the Bermuda Democratic Alliance (BDA). In my view his MP colleagues are likewise deserving of the support of their constituents. They are Mr. Donte Hunt J.P., M.P. and Mr. Mark Pettingill J.P., M.P. Long live the BDA.

OWEN H DARRELL

Pembroke

Only hurting tourism

November 16, 2009

Dear Sir,

It seems almost every week there is another shooting in Bermuda and most times those responsible are not caught. Surely those Bermudians who know something but will not talk to police must realise these shootings can only hurt tourism. It is time the Police brought in undercover officers from other jurisdictions to try and catch these people who are helping tourism go down the drain and it is time for Bermudians who know something to speak up!

JOHN FERGUSON

Retired Journalist

Former ZBM News Director/–VSB News Consultant

Belleville, Ontario, Canada