Women are on top

November 4, 2002

Dear Sir,

This weekend it came to my attention that persons are being approached to sign a petition proposing the outsting of the present leader of The Progressive Labour Party. Members of the community, particularly PLP followers, should be offended if not insulted. This petition is the brainchild of a team of people whom we elected to govern our country and as such should be adult enough to work through their differences without sluggery .

Why is it that we as Bermudians find it necessary to deride each other and more disgustingly behind each others back by means of deceptive intra-corroboration. It is known throughout the Island that there are several Members of Parliament, whom were chosen by us, whose mission statement of late is to dethrone Jennifer Smith while there are more important issues at stake. What is the issue Gentlemen? Yes, Gentlemen... you know who you are. I think it is time for you all to show your faces and be the men that you propose to be when you find the guts to step from behind your mothers skirts and be heard. Madam Premier had bestowed upon you the responsibility of certain areas of our Island's welfare. I ask, how many of you have aspired to the expectations of these positions? How many of you have done nothing but cause uprise in the community from which the female persuasion of the political arena has bailed you out or provided you with tools to wriggle yourselves out. Personally, I feel that your "do as I say and accept what I do for I am the head of this household" attempts were cowardly. This works fine when dealing with your children but the effects of your decisions are on the adults whose goal it is to provide some type of foundation for the children of tomorrow. Should this party fall short at the next election, I assure you, it will not be because of the leadership of the country, it would be because of the handful of you who have only shown us a stance that reads of the statement that men should be in charge.

Ask yourselves. Doctors, who will look after your patients while you attempt to run a country, or do you care. Lawyers, who will replace you in the defence of your clients; representative of your oath to ensure that the law of the country is upheld while you attempt to run things. And to the rest of you...what about your positions. What happened to teamwork?

One thing I can say about the present Premier is that she is for the country. She has no children with issues that she has to deal with. She deals with the issues of all our children. She has no late night demands on her after she had completed her days duties of a full time job outside and inside of the home; including prayers at bedtime. She has the task of lessening some of the burdens for those men and women who forget how important it is to listen those prayers at bedtime. Let's look past the female and look at the Team. If you don't want to be a player, move over and let someone who wants to be, have a turn.

I ask the women of this country, do you see any reason why a female is the wrong person to be the leader of our governing party. What has she done wrong? Haven't we been forced to become the backbone of our household? Haven't we been forced to work just as hard or harder then most men to achieve some of the most basic of necessary achievements. We set goals, it's maternal. How many men can stand up and present their women with a five year plan. We have ours and our children futures to work towards because we have the foresight of the need for strong individuals, particularly males, in our infrastructure in years to come.

Men I ask you to grow up because times have changed and your number one focus should be what's best for "us" and not yourselves. And if you want my vote or the vote of the women of this country in the next election, give us a reason to want you.

M. THOMAS

Paget

Measuring bravery

November 7, 2002

Dear Sir,

The Bermuda Bravery Awards seems to be a folly! True, a few of the recipient seemed to be worthy of the award as the Gazette reported their actions were above and beyond the call of duty faced with an unusual situation outside their normal frame of reference.

My concern is that to give an award for bravery to a person who is dutifully paid for just such a service is lamentable. Surely a pat on the back and a hearty handshake for a job well done is the appropriate appreciation for such action by a trained and qualified person.

Such actions are principally why they have been hired and monetarily rewarded to assess risk and tackle difficult situations, agreeably out of the ordinary for most persons. Bottom line: This is their job and not an act of bravery! This distinction should be made and be part of the criteria in awarding or dignifying an act of bravery.

The gaming machine controversy equally concerns me. I feel the Bermuda public would respect and sympathise with those establishments who had their premises invaded and property removed, confiscated and held if they did not pursue this issues once their property is returned. The cost to the taxpayer would be the burden of the people of Bermuda irrespective of the final outcome of any legal action. It will not be the Police or Customs that suffer, but Bermuda.

PJD

Warwick

Commercials don't 'ad' up

November 14, 2002

Dear Sir,

I have a complaint about television. Not the usual type that elicits the "So, what else is new" reply.

This one is about programming which may or not be a wholly local responsibility.

Recently, I have tried to watch several movies and documentaries. Each time they were completely ruined for me by the intrusion every few minutes of a jumbled mass of commercials, presented so fast and so continuously that they ran into each other in endless confusion.

I can't remember anything about the products or services advertised, even if my annoyance at their presence could have earned my attention. If I was an advertiser I would immediately cancel my contract unless something could be done to remove this frustration.

Indeed, frequently, I entirely lost the thread of the subjects, some of which were complicated and required concentration. In the case of one of them, try as I might, I couldn't even tell the good guys from the bad ones. I switched all of them off in disgust.

T. C. AITCHISON

Pembroke

Vote for Jehovah

November 13, 2002

Dear Sir,

What do the PLP and the UBP have in common? The fact that,each leader who has represented this party has failed miserably.Whether it was John Swan of the past or Jennifer Smith now,they've all failed somewhere.Now Dr.Grant Gibbons thinks that he'll do a better job.

Wrong! What this country and every other country out there needs one government with one leader:Jehovah.

FOLLOWING THE TRUE FAITH

Pembroke

Doctor has limited vision

November 14, 2002

Dear Sir,

'Colour my world'.

What's always black and white and read all over?

Every letter by Eva Hodgson. Time to look at the rainbow Eva.

Jesus loves you.

PORTUGESE

Pembroke

The pot calling the kettle

November 16, 2002

Dear Sir,

That was quite a lead story in today's Royal Gazette (Sat, Nov. 16). I must admit there are few people in Bermuda who know as much about racism as Renee Webb. Her numerous racist comments qualify her as an expert.

Her most memorable racist comment, in my opinion, was 'We're a lack government and we'll buy our over-sized luxury cars from a black dealership if we want to.'

This, and other race-based comments which she bandies about so easily suggest that she is herself a racist.

SPANISH POINT VOTER

Pembroke