Religion and politics

November 8, 2002

Dear Sir,

I must applaud Mr. Ashfield DeVent for his appeal to keep religion out of politics. If Mr. Bean and Mr. Santucci believe that there can "be no distinction" between church and state, then perhaps they should consider applying for citizenship in one of the world's lovely little theocracies and leave Bermudian politics to more secular-minded individuals.

Mr. Santucci's claim that "Church is a community from within the broader community. So they are the same at the end of the day," is flawed in that it instantly excludes not only all Christians of other denominations but also the followers of every other religion within the community. With Mr. Bean making similar remarks, how does either man hope to appeal to any atheists, Rastafarians, Moslems, agnostics, Buddhists, etc. who may make up a significant portion of their constituency?

As Mr. De Vent said: "You are going to begin a conflict right there because who's to say whose church is the right church?" Politicians must learn to serve the community at large, and make no assumptions about the faith of their constituents. Rev. Santucci exhibited the danger of integrating one's religious beliefs with politics best when he said: "God created the world and the state." I am afraid that the good Reverend is mistaken. Perhaps God did create the world - that issue is open to debate - but no, Reverend, God did not create the state. Man created the state and, without a singular religion to unify us and monitor our behaviour, it is man by whom the state must be maintained. To attribute a state's existence to God is both egotistical and sacrilegious. In a religiously diverse society, leaders must make efforts to leave their personal beliefs out of politics.

CHRISTOPHER ASTWOOD

Somerset

Mix up housing

October 22, 2002

Dear Sir,

As a Bermudian returning home after seven years abroad, I applaud Sen. Burch's attempt to solve the housing price crisis on the island as, even with dual incomes in good jobs, my partner and I cannot find an affordable home.

However, from my experience in London and elsewhere in the UK, designating areas for low cost housing perpetuates the kind of segregation along class lines which Bermuda and, ostensibly, the PLP have fought to erase.

Why not parcel up the land into small plots and sell it at a reduced (Government subsidised) rate to those under a certain income bracket, limiting the amount any one person could purchase to 0.25 of an acre? This would have the dual effect of giving the lower earners on the island a chance to have an asset or a home and (hopefully) deflate the housing market such that the average Bermudian can afford a home.

JONATHAN YOUNG

City of Hamilton