This is a sure bet

February 5, 2009

Dear Sir,

Let me see if I understand the most recent load of waffle on the current government's attempt to introduce casinos

• First, it is not gambling but rather Gaming that is being considered.

• Somebody is spending $300,000 for a study that is going to tell us gaming is not a good idea? Say what?

• A Task Force is appointed by the Government but will "operate absent of Government appointees or influence".

• The demographically correct Task Force has less than six weeks to seek advice from the Bermuda community; for whom no one has yet seen the study report.

Yup, seems transparent, open and inclusive to me! Perhaps the $300,000 would have been better spent giving the five percent of the population who want this $100 each in gaming chips to the opening night.

Frankly, I do not know why the Cabinet just did not decide it. Everything else as relates to the current state of the tourism industry has germinated there.

If I was a betting man, but that is illegal, I would bet that both the study and Task Force will find in favour of Gaming, What say you?

DAVID J. SULLIVAN

Paget

Poor parenting to blame

January 14, 2009

Dear Sir,

The global economy is in a mess but God's economy never fails. At least one billionaire has committed suicide because of the financial climate. Many people's lives have been changed as a result of reading the Bible, but the Word of God does no change us unless we apply it to ourselves. Even people who have read/studied the Bible to disprove it have become Christians.

As far as the culture of death in Bermuda (murders, crashes, etc.) I think we need to take another look at drugs, alcohol and speed. If someone dies as a result of drunk driving or speeding they should not be treated as heroes. If we want to take high risks, we should not put other people's lives at risk as well.

I do not believe in putting sleeping policemen (speed bumps) all over the island. There are too many on the island already. In one case many peed bumps were put every few feet because a "speed demon" lived on the street. After the speed bumps were put in, he moved.

I think the main problem is bad parenting. Take his keys away, impound his bike, take his cell phone, computer and TV away.

As one of our leaders said recently, "Do your children know who their Lord and Saviour is?" In the states the Bible went out of the schools and knives and guns replaced it.

IN GOD WE TRUST

Smith's Parish

Give Dr. Hodgson her due

February 3, 2009

Dear Sir,

This is in response to RDK in Dublin, Ireland. If there was a medal for courage it would go to Dr. Hodgson for her unflinching exposure of racist practices in Bermuda and signing her name to every letter she writes to the newspaper.

Racism is the subject Dr. Hodgson has earned a PhD in and in my view it is appropriate for her to write about a subject she has devoted her life to studying and in a public forum.

She writes also about her own experience. There are some very uncomfortable things about racism that people, regardless of race, have difficulty hearing. The thing to remember is that the discomfort that is felt is not the fault of Dr. Hodgson. Look at why there is discomfort and not attack the messenger who has brought it to your awareness.

RDK in Dublin wrote that we would be still living in the Middle Ages if we dwelled on every atrocious event in our past. Specialists research every age and far into antiquity and will always do so but it does not keep us there when we speak and write of it. On the contrary it helps us to know more about our human condition and moves us forward. Human progress is slow. By now, with all that we know, there should not be any wars.

I have just completed reading a book for young adults called "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing" written by a white American man named M. T. Anderson. It is about an extraordinary "scientific" project carried out by early Massachusetts college professors to determine whether an "Africk" could rise to the intellectual level as the most educated and refined whites. The subjects were a beautiful African princess and her son who arrived in America in his mothers womb. They were never treated as slaves but as the royalty they were.

The book is a fictionalised account based on documented facts narrated by the son Octavian, and corroberated by actual archival letters and college records. Funding from a Lord in London dried up requiring a new source which demanded changing the thesis to proving the inferiority of Africans.

I won't say more about the book except that rather than send me backwards it deepened my understanding of how extreme and profoundly destructive were the methods of slave owners at the forefront of education such that the effects remain today. People who fear, resist or disapprove of discussing these things miss the opportunity of enlightening themselves. Should Mr. Anderson not bother writing about this obscure history? Can you think of any other topic we strain as hard to avoid?

I am of the view that we do not make the vestiges of this genocidal scheme go away by not speaking of it but instead by talking and talking and reading and reading. Would you not agree, RDK, that the wars we have today have their roots in unresolved resentments of the past? How different would it be if tools like discussion, reading, and reconciliation were available in the past to heal the damage from acts of dominance before they became the cause for bitterness and resentment.

If you and others would listen, even when it is uncomfortable, and allow yourselves to see through Dr. Hodgson's eyes as she tries to educate us that the crimes of yesterday have their result today perhaps she might retire from letter writing.

And please, be careful of making Obama the Messiah. Are those who ride the wave of hope engaged so that whatever hoped for becomes reality? Don't expect him to do the work alone.

FRANCES EDDY

Warwick

Let golf course heal

January 22, 2009

Dear Sir,

I read this morning in the RG that the Premier is inviting a selected group to play an eight-hole tournament. It wold be very leader-like if the Premier would allow the course to fully heal then set up a ballot box for all interested players to place a ballot.

On a selected date, make a drawing and the first 72 players drawn will be allowed to play an early shotgun. On completion of this round he can greet them and hear their comments by way of a ballot box again. This to my mind is leadership quality and the show of love for your supporters. Satisfying them then you can go out and enjoy your game with a peaceful heart knowing you served your people. But this of course, when the course has healed and ready for play.

I heard the Premier say the other night how he says his prayers before retiring for the night, well now he can show how his prayers are being answered by serving the people as did He who came and served? He told His disciples in Luke 22:27 "For who is greater? He who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves". You see, Mr. Premier, it will take nothing from you if you served and showed your love for the people whom you seek to serve the government you are leading.

You see, like you, I have that desire to play that course as I look over it every morning and there is this temptation. But it is only my obedience to the God I serve that keep me at the distance to just look and wait. Because the Bible teaches to be patient and wait and be anxious for nothing, but in everything give thanks and you can read more in Phillippians 4:6. So as the people have been very patient with you since it was your decision to close the course for this big revamp, all because of, in my opinion, your embarrassment with the Tiger statement. We have been very patient with you and your loose spending so now be patient as we are and wait. Another few months will not make a difference as we wait for the course to heal after open heart surgery. I do not think that you would send a patient back to work in as short a time after an open heart surgery

The greens look good on a few holes in the front nine, but the back nine is far from ready. The few holes that appear ready are far from it, because the fairways are really not ready and playing will do more harm than good. I do not think any right thinking superintendent will allow play, but then you are that person at this time, it appears. My prayer at this time is that those invited will not support your folly and give you another toy to play with until this one is ready.

Your impatience has cost us a sum already, so please stop an dthink. It was said how you cried tears for the new President, now try to follow in his example.

May the peace of God go with you and those in your Cabinet. Allow patience to be your goal for this new year and the time your serve. Remember nothing will change until you change your mindset.

As a footnote, let the people know just how much debt the country is in and your plan for recovery.

A.E. WENDELL (SCOPSIE) HASSELL

Sandys

Editor's note: According to the 2008-9 Budget, Bermuda 's debt and guarantees at March 31, 2008 was $359 million and its net debt was $282.5 million. This was projected to rise to total borrowings of $465.4 million in the current financial and net borrwings of $387.3 million.

Thanks for the support

January 29, 2009

Dear Sir,

On behalf of the Members of the Bermuda War Veterans Association (Bermudians and Bermuda residents who served overseas in the Armed Forces), I would like to express our grateful thanks to the Bermuda public for their wonderful support of our fundraising for the year ending December 31, 2008.

The last receipts were deposited a few days ago, bringing our final total to just over $52,000 — the best return for the last five years. I would like to say a special thank you to those persons who have supported us for many years and this year increased their donations — and a special thank you to the late Mr. David Barber, who left us $15,000 in his Will. Prior to his death, Mr. Barber was a regular donor for many years.

Last year we assisted 21 veterans and their dependants, which cost approximately $220,000. To cover this $100,000 was taken from capital, $50,000 from donations and the balance from interest and dividends from investments. Eight more years at this rate should see us through to the end of our Association.

Once again, very many thanks to all of you who helped to make this possible.

J.R.H. LIGHTBOURN

Trustee

Bermuda War Veterans Association