Dec 13th 2013

Dear Sir, Mr. Marshall persistently misinterprets the word FREEDOM to fit his rhetoric.

Freedom of speech Mr Marshall has had to be fought for, through the ages and is still going on today.

It is a reward that you should cherish, that you are able to say whatever you wish to say openly, without being hauled to a dark prison where you most likely would be tortured and disappear for ever.

Why do you think and how do you think you are able to do this Mr. Marshall? Thousands upon thousands in the prime of their lives have given their lives, to protect you and me to have freedom of speech.

Conscription armys, (as tiresome as this stint is to some, some find the experience very rewarding) are necessary to maintain a solid established order. But, it has always been recognised that there are a few, who would not wish to fight, and so they can be found other ways to be of service, they are called conscientious objectors, and there is no shame in that.

Protecting your country, your home and your family, by many, is considered an honour and a feeling of great pride, but some young men do not wish to live a regulated disciplined life and wish to be free. But, to keep a world safe from anarchy we have to have rules, and rules mean being told what is expected of us, and to be a team player to cooperate for the good of the whole.

Also, some your men feel adrift and unsure of what they want to do, and lack good friendships and camaraderie. In the army they will experience friendships that they will often carry for the rest of their lives, loyalties and feelings of belonging. All good and positive.

That there is bad language, crude behaviour and even abuse, is all built into experiencing life and for any training that needs guidance to pursue a goal., and in growing up, young men learn to sort the wheat from the chaff, and that’s what, becoming man is all about.

Mr. Marshall you are obviously an intelligent man and you speak very eloquently about what could be described as, a passion for your cause, and that is to be respected, but you continue to do a great disservice to the young men of Bermuda, by discouraging them from joining The Regiment, and experiencing that feeling of giving and serving, which usually ends up by creating a decency about life in general, ie a good man, and to see them marching on parade, fills my heart with great pride and joy, and theirs too I suspect.!

So, Mr. Marshall, be careful what you wish for, and hopefully you could perhaps see some merit to my words, and consider changing your rhetoric!?

Ever hopeful

Diana Williams