Traffic problems

October 14, 2005

Dear Sir,

?Just a Thought? brings up a good point, in fact, I believe it has been mentioned before.

We do need to come up with solutions for the congested traffic, that I will agree, but there is one important thing ?Just a Thought? and others have neglected to consider. The parents of the kids going to these private schools work too! We are not merely ?chauffeurs?.

I truly believe that if you took into consideration all the parents who did not work, and those kids took a bus to school, it would not change the congestion all that much.

Sticks and stones

October 8, 2005

Dear Sir,

Today in your paper (October 8) I read an article called ?Trio Jailed in Attack on Doctor?. The reason cited by the offenders for the attack was that Dr. JJ Soares had made a racist remark. I myself have experienced this same ?excuse? that seems to have become more and more pervasive throughout our society.

When my child was eight years old he was attacked at his school by a boyfriend of an after school programme caregiver. This man had no reason to be on the school premises and physically attacked my son who was in the hallway for disciplinary reasons. I can only assume that he was going to teach my child a lesson. My child is red haired with blue eyes, the attacker black and fully grown adult. We reported this to the police who came later that day to take a statement and said that a photographer would be in touch to photograph the welts and bruising my son had received to his upper body. The photographer never showed up and the police never again contacted us on this matter until two months later. When they did contact us, I was informed that my child had been attacked because he had called the attacker the ?N? word. I felt it pointless to pursue the matter as we felt the police did not care and my son just wanted to forget it ever happened. However, I am glad to see that it didn?t work for Dr. Soares? attackers and I would like to thank the police involved and courts for not giving the excuse merit.

Is this where we are going in Bermuda today? All you have to do is say that the white guy said something racial and you might get off the hook. Now the Premier has reinforced this attitude with his email blunder, how irresponsible can he be? Does he not realise how his actions affect everyday people...? Will the next attacker say ?I am sick of taking blah blah blah ?..? thinking in his mind that if the victim is white he has the Premier?s blessing. I know that sounds ludicrous, but then so is the beating up of an eight-year-old and using such a cowardly excuse. Where does it all stop?

?Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me? a childhood rhyme that should be adhered to by all, including Mr. ?P?.

Birkenstock scandal!

October 19, 2005

Dear Sir,

A little while ago I was enjoying a Friday night out on town with friends, that was to end with a few merry cocktails in the newly opened Square One bar.

As I had the longest legs I was a few steps ahead of the rest of my friends when we approached the two sturdy bouncers, ferociously guarding the all-important stairs up to the venue. As the two bouncers instantly and expertly scanned my smart casual appearance, I greeted them ?good evening? and headed up the stairs.

Before I could even set a foot on the first step a hand in my face stopped me in my tracks. The other bouncer, obviously telepathically informed, pointed at my very nice black leather Birkenstock sandals. Not even bothering to justify why they were so utterly inappropriate for an outdoor Bermudian drinking bar, he glanced away as if I had two heads and he did not want to draw attention to it.

I immediately took a step to the side to await the fast approaching group of young women I was with. As my girlfriend was one of them, she and I had the necessary little ?See you at home later? chat.

As I was about to head home I stood back and watched as the five gorgeous ample buxomed ladies were greeted and let in by the bouncers. All but one of the ladies had black leather sandals. From this I learned two things.

1. Dress codes are subjective.

2. I will have to grow boobs. Sincerely

Eutopia not Utopia

October 20, 2005

Dear Sir,

I hope you will allow me to respond to citizen Rance?s letter ?Utopia just doesn?t exist?.

Citizen Rance begins by confusing aristocracy (Greek for ?rule by merit/elites) with democracy (rule of the people). To be a democracy, each citizen must have complete and perfect political equality (which is impossible without economic equality) where each citizen has the right and potential to be elected as a representative. Proportional representation, transparency and the right to recall (where constituents can force, through a petition, a new election) are also vital to a democracy. Naturally one must have freedom of speech, assembly, conscience and certain legal safeguards (a constitution) to defend the democracy from mob rule. What we have in Bermuda is a wolf of oligarchy (rule of the rich) clothed in the sheep?s clothing of democratic rhetoric.

Citizen Rance then continues with a mistaken interpretation of what is meant by an ?ecological society.? Here I will even quote the ?bogeyman? Marx himself: ??an entire society, a nation, or all simultaneously existing societies taken together, are not owners of the Earth, they are simply its possessors, its beneficiaries, and have to bequeath it in an improved state to succeeding generations as ?good heads of the household.?? Our current system of short-term profit is tearing apart the great bonds of our global ecosystem, and global eco-catastrophes are on our horizon unless we change course now.

Citizen Rance, citizen professor of literature, brings up Sir Thomas More?s ?Utopia?. One wonders if you have read and understood more than the title of this work. The first half of the book concerns a critique of 16th Century European civilisation, while the second half holds up the Utopian ?ideal? as a mirror to 16th century reality. By this device Moore is able to, indirectly, suggest certain reforms of actual society without fear of retribution. He lived under a monarchic dictatorship where freedom of speech did not exist (except for the King) and could not make open suggestions. His book used the idea of an impossible ideal (Utopia) to point the way towards an attainable Eutopia (?well-place). The key to the book is found in the opening poem and the concluding sentence.

Citizen Rance is right that we must guard against totalitarianism. We have the history of the Stalinist nightmare to haunt us and to guard against. Socialism is attainable, but not without democracy. That is the lesson of the 20th century. Human nature has many aspects to it, from selfishness, elitism and brute force to altruism, equality and compassion. Different qualities are emphasised in different societies and socio-economic systems. I believe we are making the wrong choices in greed, vulgar materialism and elitism.

Perhaps I have a splinter in my own eye, but perhaps citizen Rance has a log in his. Who is guilty of quixotic idealism? Was not this charge levelled against the woman suffragettes, the campaigners for racial equality and for the universal franchise? And yet, through hard work and struggle, we now have these rights to cherish and defend. One must support capitalism by ?hoping that the good intentions of individuals surpass the bad?? Do you forget your own lecture that the ?paradisical theory always succumbs to the practical hell??

The laws of capitalist accumulation, not morals, are the motivating force of the rich. Unless each generation is reset to economic equality (equal potential) capitalism necessarily leads to the accumulation of capital amongst a minority and the pauperisation of the majority.

We see this in our own island without having to reflect on Bhopal or Africa. The chief accomplishment of our current government, to date, has been to prove that a historically black party can govern as incompetently as a historically white party. It is time to deal with the real issues and throw off the veil of race which has, till now, obstructed our view. All these academic debates, be they on economics, drugs, violence, sexism, housing, education, ecological stewardship and so on, count only for so much hot air, wasted ink and broken promises without practical action. A better world is possible, but we must do more than hope for it. We must work for it too. J. STARLING

Hamilton Parish

Shabby Front Street

October 23, 2005

Dear Sir,

We have recently returned from a trip to Bermuda. We are 37-year annual visitors often making multiple visits to your lovely island.

The article in Saturday?s regarding the Bank of Bermuda knocking down the former Trimingham building struck a sour chord with us in two respects.

First, while we love Bermuda, we were particularly disappointed with the Front Street appearance during our recent visit. In a word, it looked shabby. It appeared somewhat like some of the lesser Caribbean towns to the south. Certainly, not what we expect from Bermuda which has always held itself to a much higher standard than that. Virtually the entire street needs a good clean up and paint job. And now, there will be another construction site to contend with along with the Coopers site.

Secondly, while there have been efforts to blend new office building construction into the beautiful old traditional appearance, it is only lip service. And with the construction of a huge (relative to its neighbours) seven-storey basically modern office tower, Front Street will be forever changed and in our opinion ? not for the good.

Another disappointment during our visit, was the absolute absence of any celebration of your 500th Centennial. This is quite a milestone and we were surprised that the Tourism Department choose not to capitalise on it.

Keep up the standards

October 22, 2005

Dear Sir,

It has been several years and 17 different islands later since I was last in Bermuda. My wife and I have travelled all over the Caribbean experiencing island after island.

I wanted to write to the people of Bermuda and tell you that you are still the friendliest! Bermuda is still the safest and the cleanest island, too. I commend your leaders for setting high standards in your country. I commend your people for its smiles and courtesy. You welcome strangers, who many times are rude and inconsiderate, with open arms.

In this day and age of worsening global conditions and attitudes, I implore Bermudians not to lose their focus or high standards. There?s not many of your type left in the world.

A politician of ethics

October 20, 2005

Dear Sir,

There?s an assumption in politics that a good man can never take office. It holds, ironically, that the people will always choose to lead them a man least capable of doing so. What a shame it would be, sir, if Bermuda would prove this unsavoury supposition.

That would certainly appear to be the case, Mr. Editor. For both pundits and gossips seem to agree that the leadership of Dr. Gibbons is unlikely to last much longer. Whether these murmurings can be afforded much credence is unclear. However, it does seem evident that the ides of March might be drawing nearer for the UBP.

With the Throne Speech ? and therein the Premier?s promised ?major initiative? ? looming, the growing uncertainty of who will reply to it certainly does not help the Opposition. Indeed, with the potentially catastrophic independence campaign finally being brought to the fore, a strong and untied front is in the best interest of the entire country.

Still, there appears to be an element within Dr. Gibbons? own party that seeks to prevent that. Dr. Gibbons, they argue, the highborn intellect is out of touch with the common Bermudian.

Certainly Dr. Gibbons? charisma is at times to be found wanting ? but there are flaws far more grievous than that to be found in politicians. Just look at our current Premier.

Indeed, detractors could learn much about Dr. Gibbons by comparing him to Cabinet?s current occupant. For Mr. Scott, in his unhappy tenure as Premier, has presided over the most disastrous Government initiatives ever to be undertaken in this country?s history. He has ignored scandal after scandal and refused to bring his Ministers to account. You?ll forgive me, Mr. Editor, but I simply cannot imagine that Dr. Gibbons would, upon being caught making racially insensitive comments, threaten the island?s free press.

The differences between these two men are stark and revealing. While Mr. Scott?s moral compass lies rusted and discarded, it is clear to me that Dr. Gibbons is a man of ethics and values. Indeed, he is in that regard a relic ? a vestige of the civility and integrity that are becoming, like the plus-vote and dual-seat constituencies, things of Parliamentary past.

I have also been impressed, Mr. Editor, at how Dr. Gibbons has handled the protracted lunacy that has been our independence debate. While his counterpart seeks to take the rash and reckless route towards ruin, Dr. Gibbons ? like most Bermudians ? supports the prudent and pragmatic course. He would, like the rest of us, prefer to avoid the storm ? while Mr. Scott would steer us headlong into the tempest ahead.

By way of conclusion, Mr. Editor, I would submit that there is no greater man in the sphere of Bermudian politics to lead this country and no better hour for him to do so. Yet, it would be remiss of me in an assessment of this topic not to make one final observation. Through casual conversation and through those bold enough to say it in the media ? it would certainly seem to me that the greatest indictment upon Dr. Gibbons in the community concerns a liability on which he has no control: his skin colour.

To that, I would say simply this:

If, as some suggest, a faction within this country would deprive themselves of a better Government by simple virtue of Dr. Gibbon?s complexion, one wonders whether they deserve it at all. DIDIER AGASSIS

Pembroke