What Easter's all about

April 14, 2003

Dear Sir,

At Eastertide we are thinking particularly of Christ's resurrection and of what instructions he left for those who were asking for directions. Speaking to his followers before his ascension, He said to them: "Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every creature." St. Mark 16: vs 15.

Bermuda has always been a Christian country. However, on Sunday, April 6 we seem to have taken a new direction; an official of our Government felt in a position to countermand our Lord's instructions by preventing a Minister of the Gospel from doing his duty, threatening his arrest if he performed a service in one of the parish churches other than the one of which he was rector.

Such an arrogant decision is unbelievable. Is one to consider from this action that Bermuda is no longer a Christian country?

Sad and worried,

JOYCE D. HALL MBE, JP

Pembroke

Fathers and daddys

April 9, 2003

Dear Sir,

I am writing with regard to the Children's Amendment Act 2002.

I am fully with the idea of both mother and father should have equal responsibility and custody of the child(ren), but my concern is that what happens when the courts order this when the father or mother has not had a relationship with that child(ren) at all. I thought that the children have rights also.

There are parents on this island that take no responsibility for their children and I am not only talking financially. My view is that if a parent does not want to be in that child's life, for whatever reason, why force that children to be subjected to a situation which may cause emotional disturbance to them.

I am in that situation. My children's "father", biological only, has been forced, by the courts and Family Services, to spend time with them. The stressful thing is that my children do not want to be around him, for the simple fact children are not stupid, they know when they are wanted and loved by someone. So there has been nothing rewarding about this "new children's law", just more hurt for my children. Mind you my children do have a male figure in their lives, the man they call and consider their father. But at the same time the courts also say the he has no say or rights to the children, a man that has raised and nurtured my children from the time my youngest was one years old, that was five years ago. The children do know the difference between "father" and "daddy". "Father" meaning biologically, "daddy" meaning the man who raises them and is in their lives.

This new law should be looked at on a different level; a level that will benefit all parties involved, especially the children, because they are the ones who really matter. Someone really needs to ask these children how they feel and what they want.

MY CHILDREN COME FIRST

St. George's

Disgusted by Minister

April 10, 2003

Dear Sir,

I just read your story on the disturbing actions taken by Bermuda's Tourism Minister. I cannot believe someone who holds such a respected position could be so disrespectful of others. I would have to say that she could not possibly be a Bermudian - no self-respecting Bermudian would do such a thing.

I can say this because I still hold my Bermuda passport and until now had done so "proudly". I have now lived in the United States for 28 years and proudly wear anything that touts my Bermuda heritage. People have stopped me and said that's where I come from and off we go naming people to see if we know some of the same people. It is truly amazing the places this happens, Sea World, Flagler Beach, Disney parks. Other people tell me what a wonderful time they had there and how kind and considerate the people are.

This story disappoints me, what more can I say. Except, there is also blame to lay with the staff at the airline, Immigration and Customs. They too did a grave injustice to all I knew and believed was Bermudian.

Growing up I always gave up my seat on the bus to any lady who was standing while I had a seat. If I didn't my mother wouldn't have forgiven me. To this day I still do the same thing no matter where I am, in any public location.

Keep up the unbiased reporting.

CHRISTINE STOLARZ (NEE MELLO)

Palm Coast, Florida

I am not an anti-Semite

April 8, 2003

Dear Sir,

Bravo to Olga Kudrytska for signing her her name to her letter. I think that is good and I appreciate it.

I cannot agree with her rebuttal however. I am not an anti-Semite first of all, and Israelis are not exempt from criticism because they are the victims of appalling crimes.

James Joyce said: "History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake." Of course the Jews lived in Palestine a long time ago. Unfortunately that does not give them the right to go back. My ancestor, so the story goes, was kicked out of Scotland for a heretical view. That does not mean I can go back and claim his property rudely taken from him in days of yore. I have to make do with Bermuda, howl though I may for a highland glen. Many Jews left Palestine of their own free will. Not Zuills from Scotland.

Much more dramatic and much more serious is the case of African slaves. When do they get to go home? Where's their country? Who's living on their property? Are you going to deny them the right to have their land and home back, because their violators didn't give them time to put down, in a book, who owned what? The Bible is not a title deed, but it is written history. Just because Africans did not participate in the nightmare of history with their own contribution to the horror doesn't mean they can be excluded if we decide to divide up the world one more time. Yes, the people who enslaved them may have been their own race, but often the people who persecuted the Jews were Semites.

When did it become the standard that reparations could only be made to a people who had been persecuted by violators of a race different from their own? Russians have suffered depredations of a profoundly greater scale. How will they be compensated? Are they to be ignored because their own people turned on them? Russia is a country of races very different from each other; more different than Arabs and Jews. So many of their cultures were wiped out by oppressors very different from themselves. Is land the only tender of reparation?

What about the Congo, (another massacre greater than the holocaust)? I am told a statue of King Leopold still stands in Belgium. How's that for recognition of crimes done? Are the Congolese going to be ignored because instead of letting them leave their country the Belgians worked them to death on their own soil? What is so special about the Israelis?

You can say my ancient Zuill is apocryphal and unexamined. You can say that he did not suffer as the Jews did. I say, thank you very much, but that is for me to say - not you! Yes Jews lived in Palestine but so did the ancestors of the present day Palestinians. All were Semites then. Many were Jews whose descendants converted to Islam. They, in their millions,now live in Jordan. When do they get to go home? After another 3,000 years of bloody history? Surely ancient history is the worst possible land deed. How many people own how many different pieces of land all over the world? It reminds one of those annoyingly perceptive anarchist sayings: "Property is theft." It is indeed. You can see why Joyce saw claims of history as bizarre , terrifying and being redeemed by sleeping fantasising minds. Time to wake up.

JOHN ZUILL

Pembroke

A great performance

April 7, 2003

Dear Sir,

I would like to take this opportunity to say what a tremendous pleasure it was to attend the City Hall theatre last Saturday evening to watch a remarkable group of young people put on a superb performance. I'm referring to the United Dance Productions Junior Company Show directed by Suzette Harvey.

The show was simply superb. It was obvious from the moment the curtain opened that this ensemble of beautifully trained dancers were all giving 110 percent to their performances. Their enthusiasm was infectious, their talent abundant, and their energy boundless. They had clearly put in many, many hours of hard work and practice to produce such a highly professional show.

We so often hear there is nothing for our youth to do these days, and when there is they don't make the effort to take advantage of the opportunities provided to them. Well, that theory goes right out the window. These young people had it all, and were a great credit to their parents, their dance school, and to the whole community.

It would be unfair to name just a few of the many amazingly talented young people who took part in the show, but it would be remiss not to mention the brilliant dancing of Eric Bean Jr. (is it really possible to be so lithe, loose and limber?) who has a rare talent and richly deserves to have recently been awarded a full scholarship to attend the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. You can be sure we will hear much more of this exceptional young man as he pursues his career as a professional dancer. One piece of advice to Eric - keep looking over your shoulder because there are lots more young Bermudians (and can I say young black Bermudian males as well as females) who will be following in your footsteps!

Suzette Harvey sets an extremely high standard, but her students showed last Saturday that they are up to the task. To any parent who is looking for a positive activity for your child where they will be taught dedication, commitment and discipline - and have a great time doing so - I suggest you beat down the door to the United Dance Productions School. Congratulations also to the Bank of Bermuda for sponsoring the show.

RJS

Smith's Parish

P.s. The only disappointment was to not read a glowing review in The Royal Gazette after Friday's show, or rather, no review at all. Mr. Editor, could I suggest that next year you send a reporter to beat down the door to City Hall theatre and catch the vibe.