Curfews won't work

August 21, 2008

Dear Sir,

Ever so often the clarion call, "we must take back our Country", goes out. May I ask, take back from whom? When did the majority of law abiding and positive residents sign over a deed to a minute mob of delinquents? We need to listen to ourselves, take our heads out of the sand and get real. These hoodlums do not own Bermuda. For every delinquent reject I can show you ten positive young men and women. I agree with Minister Burch 100 percent. No curfew is going to work. I see it impacting negatively on organisations such as Word Of Life and other youth groups who help to positively mould the minds of our young people.

I applaud the efforts of the fledgling group MADD. Women have seemingly been in the forefront from back in the Garden of Eden. Where are the men? We sit back and wonder why our sons turn out to be "Momma's Boys.

We then moan about going back to the good old days. What was good about them? Men still did not step up to the plate. Our children are only mirroring what they see. Think of that song "Woe is me. Shame and scandal in me family."

Rise up, men of Bermuda. Join MADD and rid our blessed island of the social rejects whom we have made to believe that they own Bermuda. To the religious fanatics out there, judge me as ungodly if you so choose. I write this letter with much pain. Five years ago my own family had to exercise tough love and remove the destructive element that sought to ruin the family. I doubt if that scar will ever go away. So I write passionately. This is our Bermuda. Let us keep it this way.

JOSHUA RICHARDSON

Pembroke

Why not?

August 21, 2008

Dear Sir,

Al Seymour's opinion piece is right on the mark as far as drugs and their horrible effects. I would also like to add that there are other things that lead to the "above the law" feeling in today's youth.

One only need travel the streets of Bermuda to see that the laws of the road are held in such low regard as to be a farce. Youngsters watch and learn how these "laws" apply to no one like themselves.

Passing on curves, speeding, passing on the inside and other acts of negligent driving are all to be seen without repercussion. If such basic laws are not upheld, why should a young mind be concerned with any other laws?

Taking a chain, smoking cannabis, beating tourists and Bermudians alike – why not? If the most basic laws are made a mockery of on a daily basis, why be concerned with the others? I think it is time to start at rock bottom on this issue and start enforcing the laws of a civil society.

JAMES TOLLEFSON

Middletown, Rhode Island

Impound the cars

August 22, 2008

Dear Sir,

Pardon my ignorance but I thought that the new electronic vehicle tagging system recently implemented was meant to rid the road of unlicensed vehicles and to also ensure that any vehicle involved in an accident was properly insured.

It would appear, however, that the real reason is to make millions of dollars. If a vehicle passes a scanner and is found to be unlicensed, then why isn't that vehicle immediately impounded? How is it that a driver of an unlicensed vehicle can rack up $15,000 in penalties in the past six weeks (according to today's Royal Gazette)? Why wasn't his vehicle impounded after the first time?

For a government to allow an unlicensed vehicle to remain on the road is not only irresponsible, but downright foolish. For those of you who do not know, every motor insurance policy is conditioned on the premise that the vehicle is properly licensed. As such, if you drive a vehicle that has been insured but not licensed, then the insurance company has the right to avoid the claim.

Meanwhile, I would suggest that unlicensed vehicles be removed from our roads immediately upon discovery, if for no more reason than to avoid situations where innocent third party victims are left without insurance coverage.

IN AWE

City of Hamilton

Welcome them back

August 26, 2008

Dear Sir,

Fifty years ago, on August the 28, 1958, a young Bermuda Policeman and a lovely Canadian girl, working at the Bank of Bermuda, were married at St. Theresa's church and held a beautiful reception at Admiralty House. On August 28, 2008, Bill and Jean McCormack will return to Bermuda, with their two daughters, to remember, reflect and celebrate their years in Bermuda, their special day and the ensuing fifty years.

After their marriage, Jean and Bill settled in Toronto where Bill joined the Police force and ultimately became the Chief of Police of that city, commanding a force of over five thousand officers. Jean became the beloved matriarch of a wonderful family of five children. Jean and Bill's memories of Bermuda have stood the test of time and, although the past 50 years have seen many changes on the island, Bermuda will forever be the place they first 'felt the love' and the place where those wonderful memories first began. We know all Bermudians will extend them a warm welcome and offer best wishes as they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. As do we.

LARRY AND BESS WESTON

Toronto, Ontario

Lets get it together

August 23, 2008

Dear Sir,

Three Words: Compulsory Community Service. Let it resonate for a second. Compulsory Community Service. Bringing together young people from different backgrounds to work together towards a common goal, would have them learn together the merits of civic responsibility, all the while making friends from varying demographics and creating a sense of community pride the boon of gangsta life and the stuff that binds a group together. This as much as anything would both curb violence and create social cohesion.

A six-month compulsory programme, run tight, but run for fun, with the end desired result in mind, and so to not discourage volunteering later in life. I can speak for my travels in Up With People, and the bond it creates with your mates and community beings profound and life altering. Our Community Service programme, can be just as accommodating to one's life as the Regiment, and so a model is there my friends, this can be done!

In fact, young people could even choose between the two perhaps (though I'll admit to not being a fan of Compulsory Regiment at all really) and if not, that then they could choose from different CS divisions for periods of time with such division as charities, churches, retirement homes, sports clubs, parks & beaches, Fire, Police, mentorship, or General Bermuda assistance.

Think of the life skills, the discipline, the camaraderie, pride for country one would feel, and most important, sense of belonging and sense of appreciation from and for one's beautiful island country, Bermuda. This programme, in replacing violence and fear with appreciation and hope, would be well worth its cost, and further the tangible benefits of its free labour would justify some of its cost as well. I'm 32 years old, black, Bermudian, and am optimistic of our island's future. There are many like me, wanting to be part of the solution, and are tired, no, compelled, not to sit on the sidelines much longer. We've got tons of smart and creative people here, let's see if we can't get together and mold Bermuda into what we imagine it can be.

BELCARIO SMITH

Smith's

Substandard mediocrity

August 26, 2008

Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to John Gibbons' letter printed on August 26, entitled "It's not life and death". I'm happy that literate persons with a sense of humour are writing to you, but I wish they'd consider their point of view ... to suggest that the Olympics isn't that big of a deal, is like saying that it doesn't really matter whether Goslings continues to sell rum. Or whether Elmo continues to wave good morning from Sesame Street. In other words, it might not matter to one person, but it would matter a whole lot to someone else, and the "someone else's" in that equation are many.

The Olympics is supposed to represent a time of peaceful sporting competition between the world's nations – even nations who might otherwise be at war. It is supposed to show everyone the true level of 'best of the best' and give people not only a sense of national pride, but a view of what is possible, and what to strive for. Granted, it's become a bit like Christmas shopping season at the world's largest mall, with the level to which we are apparently willing to go with the spectacle and coverage of it all ... but again, isn't that sort of the point? Aren't we trying to show the best of what we are, collectively, as a people, capable of showing?

And I come now to the point – the BBC, year after year, event after event, continuously manage to show the people of Bermuda how little they are capable of. Poor quality footage. Inappropriately placed advertising. Out of date advertising, even – Lindo's wishing us a Happy Cup Match? Come on. All the BBC seem to be able to do well is irritate everyone, by their constant and tireless efforts towards mediocrity. Sure, at the end of the day, who cares whether we have decent Olympic coverage? What does it really matter, after all, in the grand scheme of things?

Well, in the case of the Olympics, I personally think it should matter. But on an even more basic level, what does it matter, really, if our local coverage is poor? I'll tell you what I think – it matters because it is a further demonstration that the acceptable level in Bermuda is Sub-Standard Mediocrity. It makes everyone feel as if they're living in a backwards nation – 'what, you mean we can't even get the Olympics on TV?' It's a poor showing. It's laughable. More than that, it makes people ashamed of their country.

I happen to know a gentleman from Jamaica who was home for the Olympics. He said the Olympic pride and celebration there was outstanding. National Pride. We don't have it. And I venture to suggest that the reason we don't have it, is because every time someone raises a point about the Sub-Standard Mediocrity rampant in our culture, some other joker turns around and tells them to have a drink and forget about it. As someone once said, concerning his passion for football ...

IT'S NOT LIFE AND DEATH ... IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT

Warwick

Do you have proofreaders?

August 26, 2008

Dear Sir,

On page 25 of the Sports section in today's Royal Gazette, it says in enormous black letters 'AITKEN FLYS FLAG FOR ISLAND AS GAMES END'. There is no such word as FLYS; the word is FLIES. Doesn't anyone at The Royal Gazette know how to spell? Isn't anybody watching? Ridiculous and embarrassing!

JEAN HANNANT

Pembroke

Just curious

August 25, 2008

Dear Sir,

Why was the implosion of Club Med 20 minutes late? Why wasn't there the warning siren?

CURIOUS

Pembroke