It is time for me to speak out for that segment of society who cannot always speak out and be heard -- they are the children, who are near and dear to me.

I am quite a distance from childhood but not so far removed that I do not remember the joys and challenges of being a child. So my challenge now is to appeal to you on behalf of all children, and be their voice. As many of us believe our children are our future, and will determine the society of the future, so we must make them our priority and not just give lip service to this.

Dear reader, I challenge you and all our caretakers to help me to become the best person I can be, help me to learn from my errors for from them I learn what is accepted and what is not. Do not be so quick to criticise and judge me, take time to nurture me and show me how I could have made a better choice.

To the media, I also feel undervalued when you do not treat me with the same sensitivity and importance that you treat others who have made the same error.

Mr. Reporter it is not fair when you slam some of my peers on the front page of the daily newspaper and others who have made the same error somewhere nondescript in the inner pages of the weekend newspaper. Have you so soon forgotten that as children we are curious, want to belong and are sometimes misguided? Yes we do need to be corrected, but it can be done with caring and concern by those who value us, for this empowers us and prepares us to make better choices next time. Also Mr. Reporter can you reserve the front page for us only when we do positive things, this may help us to strive to do more acceptable, praiseworthy things; for some of us do like to be in the news. We know that sensationalism sell newspapers, but our community thinks that the well being of our children is more important. Right? I am asking the help of the entire community, for you all can make a difference. Don't treat me different because I look different, or speak different or live over here instead of over there or I go to this school instead of that school. I have the same goals of being accepted and valued, however often times I do not know what to do to make it real, for my nurturers, providers, heroes, community fall short of demonstrating to me what I must do. Show me, be there for me, care about me, hold me in high regards, expect the best from me, treat me with respect, treat me like you would want to be treated, love me.

Give us a chance, one, two, three or even seven times seven, do not give up on us; show us the way, you set the example. From you we learn how to be what we are, and from you we can also learn how to be the best that we can be. I am not criticising or judging you, I just want you to begin to remember and to open your hearts and respond to us from a consciousness of wisdom, love and faith and not from unknowing, biases and fears. For as you remember, you can teach and demonstrate to us what it means to be responsible, honest, respectful and have integrity.'' On behalf of all children I challenge all Bermudian residents to begin to work with and for children from a caring, sensitive, heart consciousness, nothing less. We must make a sincere effort and this will take consistency and time, for change is gradual and a change of consciousness is needed. I will continue to be a voice when ever and wherever I can. Remember like our children we are a work in progress. We must all be accountable.

A. CONSTANCE MCHARDY Smith's Parish Arrogant CEO April 11, 2000 Dear Sir, I refer to your Letter to the Editor dated February 23, 2000 from Expat CEO. I live in the United States by choice as you have lived in Bermuda for 20 years by choice. I, Sir, am a born Bermudian. You, Sir, I can only assume are either from the USA or Canada. Reading your letter, I felt immediately the arrogance of your letter, and finally your veiled threat to Bermudians. For a person who has lived in Bermuda for 20 years, you do not seem to have educated yourself on Bermudians. Before you came to the Island of Bermuda, Sir, we did not gag those considered "windbags'', or those with different opinions or ideas, as you Sir did not suffer the indignity of being gagged in your public admonishment of the natives of Bermuda. As for the term "xenophobic'', Bermudians have never hated or feared strangers or foreigners. Before you were born, Sir, Bermudians were tremendously hospitable, hard working, hard playing, proud and devoted to their Island and welcomed with open arms foreigners, strangers, (tourists) to their Island! Your reference to "Multiplier Effect'' and what it means to Bermuda's economy is not lost in the concern Bermudians have for their future or their children's or grandchildren's; and contrary to your arrogant and insulting suggestion that "Concerned Bermudians hurriedly search their dictionary for the term "multiplier effect'' -- all I can say as old Bermudians used to say -- "How you sound!''. Your letter, Sir, reeks with anger, yet I also detect another emotion. That emotion is called egotism. Sir, with all due respect, you obviously are an educated, intelligent, and good business man or you would not be in the position you are in. I would suggest that your message could be conveyed with less anger, arrogance, and disrespect to the Bermuda people.

Before I close this letter, Sir, I will say that it seems to me that Bermuda no longer is in charge or control of her destiny of fate if you will. Bermuda and the Bermuda people are now at the mercy of the money merchants of the world, their ways, their methods. I will not agree on your statement pertaining to tourism, but even that aspect of Bermuda was created indirectly by companies such as yours and people (shakers and movers) such as yourself. A discussion on that issue is for another time at your pleasure. In closing, Sir, I will tell you that over 40 years ago, Bermudians had to kiss up to foreigners and expats to get ahead. I hope this letter by inference is not suggesting a return of that system.

MIKE Orlando, Florida