December 6, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am in my eighth year of our community theatre's presentation of 'The Christmas Carol' and I could not help reflect on the negative aspects of what Scrooge is going through and how it applies to Bermuda.

Perhaps the Customs officers who greet visitors could take a hint from that curmudgeon and try to smile once in a while (something to do with "you don't get a second chance to make a first impression ?"). Scrooge's life is focused on "things" and not people and over the years I have seen the erosion of Bermuda's values of friendliness, courtesy, and empathy. Do you become a Scrooge when you get on your moped or behind the wheel of your car? Please think about that for a moment.

I would not like to dwell on more of the negative aspects of Ebenezer's life, for in the end he does change his values. I hope that Bermuda does not become a "humbug" place to visit, because I have more than four decades of wonderful memories of your island. It's not too late for any of us to change our bad habits, and maybe we can un-Scrooge ourselves and become something that we really want to be.

That is what I wish for everyone, for as Tiny Tim observed, "God Bless us everyone."