A festering animosity

November 19, 2003

Dear Sir,

Yesterday, (I began this weeks ago) I attended the funeral of a lady with whom I worked many years ago. I mean the word "lady" in the form in which I have used it to describe a woman of aristocratic bearing possessed of all the virtues of intelligence, compassion, tolerance, generosity, forgiveness, and love. At the funeral, I learned more about this woman's life, and her commitment to her family and to her values and the community. Of how she and her husband worked to send four sons to university.

Of her pioneering contribution to The Women's Movement, and other ground-breaking cultural reformist groups. During the service, I stopped to reflect upon an incident which occurred several years ago; a discussion with one of her sons.

Before I describe it, may I ask you, the reader, if you have ever had your sensibilities assaulted by the unthinkable in such a way that disbelief is the only reaction of which you are capable? That describes my reaction. "No, that's impossible" I repeated? even though my stomach was churning. He insisted. His mother had to sit in a particular area of the bus and cinema, had to use particular public facilities, separately from white people.

For years afterwards, I imagined myself as a knight in shining armour, lying on the floor of the bus in protest ? immolating myself in front of City Hall? and, of course, after the heroic fantasies, dejectedly recognising, that, no, I would have been the interminable coward that I have always been. I would have lowered my head in the crowd, marched in step, identified myself with my peers, not stood out, not courageous, not principled, not militant.

Recently, while crossing an intersection on foot in New York, I watched the doorman of the hotel blow his whistle for a taxi to stop. A black family, well-dressed for an occasion, a father, mother and son, I guess, were waiting for the taxi. A taxi responded ? but as it braked, it swerved to the other side of the road and picked up another passenger. It was all too quick to take stock of. Maybe I jumped to the wrong conclusions.

I don't even know what colour the taxi driver was, or his fare. I fumed in anger, and wanted to disappear down one of those steaming manholes in the uneven road. I have always detested bigotry and discrimination. It manifests itself in so many ugly forms. Racial, gender, economic, employment, political, class, religious, and so on.

And we had a huge bitter unpleasant taste of it in Tuesday 18th. Letters To The Editor from someone described as "Disgruntled Expat". "The majority of Bermudians being lazy and unreliable?." the correspondent writes in "disgruntled" response to a Bermudian's concerns over Expats In The Midst. My letter ? this one ? began some months ago, gestated by a letter to the Editor which talked about the government leaders' "faces of hatred"? but, like many letters, mine, unfinished, was put aside? but now "disgruntled" has inspired me to collect my thoughts and express my opinions !

I have worked among Bermudians for over two decades. They are not lazy and unreliable. In fact, they sometimes have to pick up the pieces in the wake of a departing guest-worker who was welcomed with fanfare as qualified and experienced, and whose contribution turned out not to be as constructive as the impressionable employer vainly hoped for. Equally, when they experience close contact with guest-workers who are friendly, and for whose experience and qualifications there is need, and whose contribution to the economy and the training of Bermudians is given fairly in return for income and lifestyle, then the average Bermudian can be extremely appreciative and quick to commend and express gratitude.

I do not feel sorry for Bermudians. On the contrary, I feel immense respect. I hang my head in shame when I read letters such as the two to which I have referred. I have deep and abiding admiration for the patience with which Bermudians have waited, and for the internal battle which many experience in casting out the "devils" of hostility, resentment, and hatred so that these negative, vitriolic and poisonous forces do not cling like a canker to the heart and mind to infect the carrier rather than the object of the anger. But, I do feel sorry for the "Disgruntled Expat"malcontentwho penned the poisonous letter.

Why? Your festering animosity oozes from a malignant disease of virulent bigotry. You could not have lived here long or to any meaningful degree engaged, either socially or in the workplace, with Bermudians of any measurable number. If you live your life within the constrictive, tangled defences of a prison built of venom-spiked thorns and barbs, it will soon overgrow you and escape will be impossible; you will for the remainder of your life be a prisoner of your own making, and not even on your deathbed will you comprehend that you robbed yourself of one of the most important experiences which life has to offer, that of finding friendship, knowledge and respect in difference.

Reverting, to my original thought behind this letter; it was really to say that I am not sure that if I, hypothetically-speaking, had been the object of discrimination and bigotry, I would have been able to surmount and cast out hatred and hostility and resentment. In fact, I know that I would have failed miserably to become such a saint if I had gone through what so many of my generation ? but who are Bermudians ? had charitably endured. The lady, whose funeral I attended, will remain, for this correspondent, a constant icon to strive to emulate. But I already know that I have already failed.

Drastic measures needed

November 28, 2003

Dear Sir,

I write in complete disgust and horror in reaction to today's article in the paper " Wardens Dig Up Dead Dogs". It makes me sick to my stomach that people could be so cruel. Owning a pet is not a right but a privilege. Dogs are man's best friend and if given the love and care they deserve, they will be loyal to the end. Those who betrays this loyalty for their own sick gains, are but a cowards and, as in this case, murderers of life.

I sincerely hope this person is brought before the full force of the law and imprisoned. I have little hope, however, that the laws in this case will serve as a suitable punishment or deterrent. One has only to look at the sentences tied to recent child abuse cases? they are a sick joke. Maybe those persons who commit such abominations later in life? buried alive a dog or two along the way. Such a person who so easily snuffs away an innocence that is so pure and loving needs to be flogged, thrown in prison and, in this animal killer's case, never be allowed to own or to be seen within a hundred yards of any animal? or child for that matter! Drastic? Absolutely not! What this person did, to bury a mother and her puppy alive, is beyond any reasonably sane person's comprehension. He obviously never grew up in a loving household with a family pet.

These animals are our companions. They teach our children unconditional love, loyalty and the responsibility of respectful ownership. Buy a pair of expensive Nike shoes if you want to parade yourself around as a status symbol. I'd be happy to put a chain tightly around your neck and drag you around myself (trust me!). Maybe throw you in with a bunch of other dogs to see what fight you have left in you. I could tie you to a tree under the blistering sun, with little water and occasional food. And then when I tire of you? I'll start digging a hole in the back yard, shall I? Give me some rope! I can't imagine that these dogs were well taken care of before being murdered and that no one knew what this person was doing!

We are by nature a pokey bunch of people. This might have been preventable.

To those that did know yet did nothing, you are just as guilty. Please, if you witness or suspect any injustices toward life, man or animal, report it immediately. It's a cycle of lost innocence that you are preventing. In this case you are saving man's best friend. Just know that my wonderful Border Collie dog is my son and everyone should be so lucky!

Don't ignore commission

October 28, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am the owner of two large breed dogs that I train weekly in obedience, tracking, and agility. I have made a point of socialising them with children/adults in an effort to change the breed's media stereotype. To now hear that these breeds are both banned by an agency that should completely research an issue before instilling rules, is a slap in the face. I understand that there is no intention to punish responsible dog owners directly. However, we are the ones that suffer. Everything the irresponsible breeders and dog fighters are doing is already illegal.

Banning the dogs they use is just one more thing to add to the list. If anything, the ban simply makes these animals more of a status symbol and therefore raises their price tag. It will also increase the inbreeding resulting in even more behavioural and physiological problems. Worst of all, this ban suggests to the public that these dogs are at fault when in fact it is entirely the fault of irresponsible owners and breeders.

We need to start enforcing the laws that already exist. I know the department's job is not an easy one but I also hear stories of breeders yards not being reviewed, dogs obviously involved in fighting returned to their owners, illegal breeders being allowed to keep their puppies etc. I try to keep an open mind and hope that this is not true, however, if there is validity in any of these stories, the department must start enforcing existing breeding and fighting laws.

The public deserves to see some legitimate statistics on the number of dog attacks and the breeds involved. Lets also make sure the breed is correctly identified, as 'Pit Bull' seems to be used for any dog that shows aggression. The Dog Committee Report produced in 2001 by a number of dog experts (Dr. Nesbitt included) clearly states "Government should not ban specific breeds and continue to punish the owner, not the breed". In addition, it addresses the current dog issues point by point and offers logical solutions to each. Why has this report been so blatantly ignored and worse yet, kept from the public?

Bermuda should be progressive in this issue and be a leading example of opened minded fairness. We have the opportunity to show other areas dealing with the same issues that we choose to punish the criminals not the victims. As an Island we have vast levels of monitoring and control at our disposal. We just need to use it.