God hates what's bad

June 22, 2003

Dear Sir,

In answer to the question in Eva Hodgson's letter - who's side is God on? - God doesn't like political affairs where man or, in this case, woman feels she should have other people obeying her (we should be serving God alone).

He doesn't like it when people pledge allegiance to any flag whether it be to America or any other country. He doesn't like it when people get all puffed up with pride and tend to love their cars/bikes more than Him. He hates pornography and he dislikes when people expose their bodies whether it be on the Internet or out in the open. He doesn't like it when people are lazy at their jobs and lie saying that they work every day. In fact, He doesn't like when people kill one another (the reason why we have so many wars is because some people follow Satan's commands rather than God's which explains the military, street gangs, poachers and any other individual full of violence).

In fact, there are those who don't even believe he exists even though in the Bible it says he does. They continue living the sinful lifestyle that was once in Sodom and Gomorrah and still others are prejudiced to any other race but their own. Since God hates what's bad... why would He love this?

ANSWERING EVA

Pembroke

Internet disconnect

June 21, 2003

Dear Sir,

Why is it that whether you're signed up with Logic, North Rock or Fort Knox that every now and then after you're on the Internet you have to reconnect? Is something wrong at each one of these places?

COMPUTER USER

Pembroke

Accidental Island

June 21, 2003

Dear Sir,

Is it just me or does it seem like the Road Safety Council will only act if someone dies in an accident in an area that should've been dealt with before that accident even happened?

First of all some of these cars I see on the road amaze me (they are like a real live version of 'Biker Boyz', 'The Fast and the Furious' and probably even '2Fast2Furious').

Heck, some cars seem like they own the road trying to get as close as possible to the walls around North Shore Road (it's bad enough that some youngsters on bikes ride crazy but people driving in cars) even some young people (those wearing shades, driving an ultra dark tinted car and talking away on a cell phone while they drive looks sick).

If only these people drove with more caution or better yet, since they love being on a cell phone so much either have their licences revoked or bring in cars that have the phones attached and the driver just has to talk hands free like in the States because when you teach a person how to drive, that person who's learning hasn't got a cell phone in their hand so why, isn't that sort of thing against the law? I'm guessing because the police could care less.

Speaking of things that should be changed, why must people have to wait for someone to die on Cox's Hill Road near where this woman who lives in a pink/green house stays before you have her cut down her stupid hedge? An accident nearly happened today and tomorrow one might just happen. Do you people even care or do you love seeing dead people?

Sometimes I wonder if there's a such thing as a Road Safety Council in Bermuda.

DEAD OR ALIVE?

Pembroke

A right, not charity

June 17, 2003

Dear Sir,

I was delighted to read in my Royal Gazette recently that Government was considering extending health coverage to seniors, but my heart sank when I read the last paragraph and I quote from Peter Sousa, the acting Financial Secretary comments, where he wrote: "The Ministry did not know when the research would be completed or when it started"!

Are the senior citizens of Bermuda always going to be put on the back burner when some other project raises it's head? Shouldn't we be as important or more important then, the wasted thousands that seem to flow out of the Ministry's purse? Charities abroad, and benefits that cost a fortune, doesn't charity begin at home?

Should it be called a charity? Shouldn't it be a right, that having paid all your life into your insurance company that when you become 65 you should automatically be looked after?

Does this not shame the social consciousness of this Island, this wealthy little island that abounds with insurance companies with buildings like palaces and gardens and landscaping that would challenge Babylon?

Some seniors have to decide whether to buy their groceries, pay their rent or buy their medications they cannot do all three in one month. Solutions must be found and soon.

There are people who have been on committees for "Age Concern" ten years ago, and still they wait.

Seniors should not have to go cap in hand, be shamed and have to beg for financial aid after 65. Health insurance, which includes medications, should be their right; it is they that have been the stalwarts of this Island, it is they with their monthly premiums over many years, that have made the insurance companies rich, now should come the seniors reward.

I fully realise that the insurance companies in Bermuda have been and are more than generous to our local charities.

It now time for them to get together with the powers that be and their fellow insurance companies to carve out a plan, whereby the elderly after 65 can obtain financial aid without losing their pride and dignity.

Remember, the baby boomers are on their way! We should create a swell of indignation, so great that eventually we cannot be denied.

I am aware that a wealthy Island like Bermuda have many seniors that do not experience the kind of hardship I speak of in but their voice and their support and compassion for the less fortunate is vital, so I thank all who read this letter and respond to this worthwhile cause.

DIANA WILLIAMS

Educating our drivers

May 30, 2003

Dear Sir,

Twenty four hours after reading Sarah Titterton's article in the May 29 Royal Gazette concerning new helmet legislation for bikers, I am still shocked and amazed.

While Dr. Froncioni's efforts to reduce bikers' head injuries is commendable and not to be diminished, I am sure that yet again we have missed the point. The good doctor no doubt sees many injuries, head and otherwise, and I am sure has been responsible for patching up many a biker. Nevertheless, when he speaks of "one of the reasons we have so many head injuries in Bermuda was that the helmets were below par", ignores the fact that helmets do not cause these injuries, crashing does!

Do we need a rocket scientist to tell us that maybe if we made more of an effort to educate our riders and drivers, just maybe we would not be as likely to crash? Bermuda has a dismal record in educating our riders/drivers, with Project Ride falling far short of the mark, and coming ten years later than it could have because of politics. Project Ride does not teach effective street strategies, or any road-craft.

Because our children are only allowed to drive cars at 18, we usually miss the opportunity to include mandatory drivers education for drivers in the secondary school system. Bermuda already has graduated licensing as kids are allowed to ride small bikes at 16, then drive cars and light trucks at 18, but all without any effective attempt at education.

The consequences are exhibited daily upon our roads, and in the KEMH emergency room. Your newspaper refers to "accidents", and like Dr. Froncioni, I too have long refused to refer to them as such, as the vast majority are avoidable with the proper education. The Gazette's reporters could help in this awareness.

While I do not have access to the statistics, I suspect that if one were to survey the causes of crashes involving injuries, in addition to drink/drugs and speeding, many are caused by following too closely, and failure to judge road conditions adequately. A relatively new phenomenon has also contributed to crashes, and is probably best described as "aggressive driving".

This is a direct result of our overcrowded roads and poor to non-existent driver training. We have more bikes per capita than any other region of the world, except possibly for south east Asia.

These bikers are seen daily to be creating their own rules of the road, including passing on the left, "white-lining", crowding intersections, following too closely, carrying young children in front of the rider, and failing to properly assess road conditions. Even our guest workers are picking up our bad Bermudian riding habits!

Since we do not appear to police any of these above activities except for speeding and DUI, I question the ability to ensure that bikers have compliant helmets while riding. The article is also unclear as to whether existing DOT stickered helmets presently in use, will continue to be legal.

I applaud the efforts of the Road Safety Council, and cannot deny the value of a good helmet, but I cannot help but feel that without addressing the actual causes of crashing, and the resultant injuries, we are only placing yet another "band-aid" on the issue, and admitting that we do not care about our young people becoming good and responsible riders/drivers.

I further suggest that studies be made into the effects of targeting aggressive driving, and reducing or eliminating the duty on all protective headgear.

THOMAS TRIMINGHAM

'So much secrecy'

June 19, 2003

Dear Sir,

Now that the pros and cons of our tighter relationship with Cuba have been thoroughly analysed by the UK, would somebody in the Government care to tell the people of Bermuda what this is all about? What exactly does this proposed treaty with Cuba say and what is it supposed to accomplish?

I haven't seen so much secrecy since the Government signed a secret letter of understanding with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD) two or three years ago.

PENTAX

Paget

Political commentary?

June 19, 2003

Dear Sir,

We noted during the recent US posturing over the Cuba debacle that XL was flying the Stars and Stripes upside down - probably an oversight but it did make us wonder if there was some political commentary; however by lunchtime someone on Bermudiana Road had things turned around (the flag that is, not Government), so probably it was just a mistake (the flag that is, not Government).

D. GALLOWAY

City of Hamilton

A heartfelt thank you

June 8, 2003

Dear Sir,

On behalf of the Foster Parents Association, the executive committee wishes to extend a sincere and heartfelt thank you to the people of Bermuda for their contributions during our first Annual Tag Day. Without the support of the community, our event would not have been a success.

We would also like to thank the managers who granted us permission to sell tags outside of their various companies.

Thanks also to the many persons who volunteered to sell the tags.

To all of those who contributed in some way; your generosity, cooperation and efforts are greatly appreciated. You all have truly made a difference to the Foster Children of Bermuda.

COULBERT BEAN

Acting President of the

Foster Parents Association