Clearwater pupils speak out

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We must do more to prevent violence

Dear Sir,

I am concerned about the level of gang violence among the youth of Bermuda. I strongly believe that it has a big impact on the youth, their families, and the whole society. Where does this all start and why? Having researched this issue, I must conclude that it starts from the lack of support in families. Some of the teenagers may feel they don’t have a family or they feel unwanted. But when they enter gangs, they refer to them as family. Just as they would do normal errands for their family, they do things for gangs and their support sometimes involves violence and guns.

Now that I think I have an idea of how this all started, another question comes up. What is the effect it has on families? First, I think all this violence makes an unsafe environment for children. Do I have any proof?

Maybe a couple of years ago, I remember reading an article in The Royal Gazette about how a man was shot in front of his children. I believe it was around Good Friday and on Victor Scott Primary School’s field. There were children on the field. I thought a school was supposed to be safe, but it could happen anywhere. My final question is what can we do to prevent it? If violence is increasing, then it shows Bermuda isn’t really doing their best in preventing gang violence. I think more has to be done. If Bermuda can’t handle it, there are other choices, right?

I’m not an expert on violence, but I do have enough common sense to say that this gang violence needs to stop. Sincerely,

Brianna Smith

M3 Doyle

Clearwater Middle School

Follow the Bible and the law

Dear Editor,

I write to you to discuss the recent increase in gang violence. This situation is really getting out of hand and something must be done to stop it. It’s pretty obvious that gang violence not only scares parents, but it scares babies, children and even teens. I am extremely troubled by the number of incidences that are being reported in the papers.

Too many young men and women are dying. Too many mothers are crying over their babies being put in the ground and never coming back. Too many families are saying bye to someone that hasn’t even had a chance to live life. There are too many killings going on and we need to put a stop to all this violence. We can prevent this nonsense by having a wide range of after school programs. The programs could be about sports or education, or maybe a little of both. The thing that is different about the programs is good quality grades, and I’m not talking about 70 to 75 percent. We, as young Bermudians, need 80 percent and above. If you look smart and act smart, you can play smart.

We can also prevent violence through the legislature passing a law where each young teen girl and boy (age 13), should have to go with the school they attend to spend 24 hours in prison (not as a bad thing, but to say it isn’t fun) just as a lesson. They should at least show them how life would be in a bad environment (such as prison) and that breaking the law is a very horrible thing that comes with a box-load of consequences.

I believe we can also prevent violence if we get back to basic of teaching Bible principles to everyone. I believe God gave the Ten Commandments to help society be better. Would you agree with me? I mean it sounds pretty good, don’t you think? Lastly, I’d like to ask that you take these remarks into consideration. Could you live without your child? Wouldn’t you want to see your perfect baby grow into a bright future? Don’t you want to protect and save your children? Well, do it! Take my ideas into a consideration and save your family from Bermuda’s bad influences in violence. Sincerely,

Krishunna Bramwell

M3 Doyle

Clearwater Middle School

Violence solves nothing

Dear Editor,

I am a 13 year old M3 student of Clearwater Middle School. I am writing this to you to share my concern about the unnecessary violence going on in Bermuda. I hope you can agree with my ideas on this. In Bermuda the young women and men now-a-days think that violence is the answer to everyone’s problems. Well, it’s not! Violence doesn’t solve anything! It causes more and more problems for people’s families, friends, neighbours and many other people.

For some young children it can be embarrassing for them because they are the ones with the “killer or harmful” parent/parents. I know that, if my parents killed or harmed someone purposely, I would be embarrassed, hurt, disappointed and so many other things, especially in this lifetime.

Now-a-days, all people do is criticise, or judge other people. I understand that nobody’s perfect but just hear me out on this. Nobody has to harm or kill someone because they represent a certain gang or live in a certain area. That’s like if someone moved to Somerset and someone coming to harm them because they used to live in St George’s or they used to represent East Side Crew (ESC). That’s a real life scenario; don’t you think that’s ridiculous?

The young men and women are traumatising young children by doing all of this nonsense. Don’t you think that we Bermudians should all just get along and stop the violence? I know that I do. Bermuda is only 21 square miles, occupies about 63,000 people and, all together, equals up to one big community. There shouldn’t have to be violence around us. It’s unnecessary! There are overstressed parents who wish that their children didn’t have to be a part of gangs and things along that line. They probably go to sleep every night wishing that God will speak to their child and put them on the right path.

Young men are going to jail almost every month for things that they can prevent. People are dying because of being in gangs or being friends with gang members, stupid things like that can get us killed now-a-days. Please, if you are a friend /family member of a gang member talk to them, take them to church, and teach them that violence is not the answer to everything. Please, just try to help us a “Better Bermuda”. A better Bermuda makes a happy community. Let’s all try to abolish violence and together, we can make a Better Bermuda! Sincerely,

Kayuntae Ming

M3 Bean

Clearwater Middle School

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