What's happening to Bermuda?

January 9, 2007

Dear Sir,

Currently on the island you can wake up, go outside to yawn and welcome its challenges, listen to the birds chirp, hear the waves crash if you live near the water, or take a slow drive on a Sunday to relax with some peace and quiet.

To most, they see happiness in a few tangible items and/or with what they have saved in the bank. It's good to invest, spend a little money to reward yourself and relax, or get things to put a smile on your face.

I also look around everyday and I see things that would only be seen in a large strong based financial country who can afford to mess up a time or two but still have more to play with - buildings. I ride/walk by the sidewalks, supermarkets, schools, beaches, and bus stops and I feel like I just took the quickest flight to an urban city - trash.

I drive down the road now and feel like I am on one of those big highways because it's amazing with the huge multitudes that I see around me - cars. I am right back on the road again and I see aggression, lack of common courtesy, people waiting to get out of gates to ride/drive on the public roads, people in a hurry for who knows what and not letting others past through.

Everything today seems to have the words "party, relax and you'll be okay so don't panic because somebody else will take care of your mess" connected to the end.

I say all of that to simply ask the society what have we become and are we more worried about our present pockets then our future consequences? I think people fail to realise that we are only walking on 22 square miles and not 2000 square miles. Tearing apart such a fortune and minuscule piece of dust matched up to other countries; comparing ourselves to them on a map is something that comes with some serious penalties.

People will live in a neighbourhood where everyone will be able to look through another's window since they have become so close, loud horns and commotion will be heard when you are trying to take that peaceful drive. Oh, the waves will still crash but do to over population and expansion with the promise of this great future the water will be foul and those times when you attempted to throw a line over hoping to catch a big fish would be gone because the fish are all dead.

All those trees that you sat under to give you that oxygen and ability to relax from the sin will be wiped. It's sounds crazy and impossible but start investing in some sunscreen, hope that where ever you are has an air conditioner. Make all plans for the night time, or take a chance and get full contact from the sun but remember the world isn't getting any cooler.

Once the community takes a look around realising "hey there aren't any trees, what happened to our blue water in all our old photographs, why are people always in my yard, why is it so hard to get from A to B, and why are there so many building but no occupancy"?

Those happy-go people who thought nothing could ever go wrong would finish off by saying "I want my old home back". I hate to tell them that reality struck and guess what, it's too late. This island is caught up with trying to keep up with the race, and not realising that this is paradise so let's not ruin it because this is our pace.

I finish off by saying "I don't even know where I live anymore"

Where's the proof, Burch?

January 9, 2007

Dear Sir,

I was listening to the ZBM evening news on January 8, and heard the following come out of Lt. Col David Burch's mouth: 'Most Bermudians are in favour of conscription...'

I wonder if Senator Burch might release the poll that shows that most Bermudians are in favour of conscription. It there is no such poll, I wonder if he might request the Government to carry out a referendum on the matter.

If there is no truth to the above statement, then I would expect Senator Burch to retract his statement in a public forum, like the Senate or on television.

In this 21st Century when Bermuda has not been involved in a war for over 60 years, there is no need to have a conscripted army in place, especially one that discriminates against males. A volunteer reserve organisation could do just as good a job when needed in emergency situations and for hurricanes.

No to women in military

January 9, 2007

Dear Sir,

I'm against conscription for the Bermuda Regiment. However, I have to laugh at the lobby group challenging the fact that it should be mandatory for women to have to join as well.

I hope this isn't too graphic, but there are numerous obstacles to having women in the Regiment, one of which is that 'little friend' that visits us once a month. Can you picture a bunch of PMC-sing females up at Warwick Camp tearing each other's hair out? It just won't work!

On a serious note, of course we all know that women can serve in the military. However, there are measures that have to be followed, it just can't be an across-the-board kind of thing. Just think if a woman was enlisted into the military and she was pregnant and didn't realise it at the time. She would almost certainly miscarry the baby after undergoing the rigours of basic training.

Please no one write back and say that they shouldn't be pregnant at 18 anyway, because you can be recruited up to age 35, I believe. I don't think the Regiment would want to carry out pregnancy tests on the recruits to avoid this happening.

Furthermore, would they want to pay for continuous birth control to stop women from menstruating as I'm told they do in the military overseas? Those women agree, but what if someone objects for health reasons. You should have a say on whether you want this done to your body or not.

Traditionally women's roles have been to take care of the home and family. What if a woman is recruited and she's just had a baby and is breast-feeding? That's another issue that complicates things. If a woman volunteers it's one thing but I don't think it would go over too well tearing us ladies away from our little ones. So to these guys, I feel for you but trying this angle just won't work. I don't see making military service mandatory for women in Bermuda working.

P.S. It's interesting to note that military service is mandatory in Israel for EVERYONE once you reach a certain age. There is no ballot, and it's for males and females. As far as I know, you only get exempted if you're married. However, with all the terrorism over there, it's a sacrifice everyone is willing to make.

We're ready to leave

January 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

An expression of frustration from two 'scapegoats'.

White People are targets every day via newspapers, radio talk shows, etc., of the ongoing dialogue on racism. When we challenge this ongoing abuse, we are told we have to "talk" about racism in order to "resolve" the problem and when we ask how the white people can "resolve" this so-called problem we do not get an answer. This leaves me with this opinion: the existence of white people on our Island seems to make some black people unhappy. We are blamed for the problems of the black people!

My solution to this so-called "problem" is that my husband and I are prepared to take up the suggestion of two years ago made by a member of the PLP which was that 'elderly people are free to leave this Island if they so wish'. We are ready to take on the challenge provided that the Government and, of course, our insurance company are willing to see that we can continue our health insurance wherever we go. (We are not looking for a 'freebie'. We have paid into this for years and will continue to do so when we leave Bermuda).

I am sure that a lot of other Bermudians will follow suit. We are fed up being blamed for the ills of this island! We look forward to living in a friendlier domain.

I would like some positive dialogue on this matter from Government so that we can start living a happier life elsewhere.

Think about it. You will get rid of most white people. The cost to Government will be very little. All that needs to be done is to pass legislation requiring the health insurance companies to continue insuring those who continue to pay their premiums and choose to leave Bermuda.

I do hope that something worthwhile comes of the above suggestion.

(A copy of this letter is being sent to my MP.)

A pleasing site

December 18, 2006

Dear Sir,

Re: Proposed Bank on Front Street

I was astonished to read last summer (in your June 24, 2006 edition) that the Bank of Bermuda was attempting to destroy one of the most priceless and pleasing architectural sites in Bermuda, if not in the Western Hemisphere.

It is shocking that the Bank could embark on such a callous programme, particularly after building the hideous box that defaces the waterfront in front of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.

One of the reasons people like myself are drawn to Bermuda is the beautiful, textured, and appropriately scaled architecture.

I, therefore, strongly applaud the Permanent Secretary of the Environment, the Environment Minister, and the independent planning inspector and the Development Applications Board.

It would be criminal to sacrifice the long term economic health and prosperity of the island to the short term financial greed of a bank that is clearly not acting in the civic interest. Local readers will know that the Trimingham's building to which the writer refers has now been demolished and will be replaced with a bank building.

Joke wasn't funny

January 6, 2007

Dear Sir,

I don't think I would have been allowed to remain in any country after making a suspicious remark about the leader of that country. There is too much chicanery and mayhem these days for "jokes" of evil.

Some years ago when the news almost every day was of hijacking of planes a would be visitor to Bermuda was seized and turned over to our police upon arrival. He was very upset explaining that what he had said to a stewardess about hijacking the plane was a joke.

No doubt she was not amused and reported him. He had no day in court.