December 6, 2006

Dear Sir,

I was interested to see the outburst of Dr. Brown in parliament and even more surprised when Julian Hall trivialised the incident by saying that Brown and Gibbons were probably having a friendly chat shortly after the incident.

I do hope this outburst was not orchestrated for political gain. As a man with a scientific background Dr. Brown knows we are all cousins under the skin, all of us out of Africa, just a few million years ago. Racism was basically unknown until it was introduced for political reasons in the period just when people were trying to justify slavery. For us to accept the racial categories that were introduced by unscientific men is ridiculous. Genetics has proved we are far more alike than dissimilar. If we could just get over a little pigmentation, the world would be a lot saner. If we abolish race, we would no longer be able to put people into slots.

I think a serious dialogue on "race", promised during a visit to London, seems to have gone awry. Dialogue is between two groups of people. Diatribe is a sermon by one.

I feel that as Premier, it is the responsibility of the leader of the country to bring people together and promote peace and harmony instead of dividing people even further. The premier is expected to represent every citizen and not just those who vote for you or support you. I demand this of those who choose to lead.

Martin Luther King and his methods of detente were far more effective than the scare tactics of the more militant Black Panthers, who just frightened off white people and made them even more determined to keep as far away as possible from "dangerous terrorists". The power brokers in the Western world are white and it is pointless to think that we can exist in a 'black' bubble. An empowered person is one who coexists with all mankind.

I think there is a great deal of work that needs to be done in Bermuda to improve "race" relations. One of the thing that confuses me is why black Bermudians feel that the only Bermudians are black and I am also confused why white Bermudians have made no attempt to get to know their neighbours of 300 years.

My best yard stick of just how separate this community is when I go to funerals. They are mostly white or mostly black. When I see a truly integrated funeral I think the person who has passed on has lived a successful life.

The ball is in your court, Dr. Brown. Either you represent us all or you divide us the way Iraq, Rwanda, and Cyprus, have been torn asunder. Bermuda deserves better. This is a country of good and decent people.

INTERESTED

ONLOOKER

City of Hamilton

Learning from the past

December 7, 2006

Dear Sir,

Please inform Mr. Wayne Furbert, leader of The UBP, that if we don't learn from the past, we are destined to repeat it.

HISTORIAN

Hamilton Parish

Thank you to volunteers

December 12, 2006

Dear Sir,

During the Holiday Season my thoughts turn warmly and gratefully to those who help make the HAB a success. The recognition by the Governor, Lady Vereker and the the Bermuda Hospitals Board of the HAB Volunteers was most gratifying and appreciated. I would like to thank all of the HAB volunteers; including volunteers in the gift shop, the Pink Caf?, Front Desk, overseas family support group, volunteers who assist on the wards with flowers and menus, volunteers in the clinics, chapel services; Sterile Processing Department; lending library, continuing care unit. In addition to those areas already mentioned I would like a special thank you to go out to our many faithful volunteers who work at the "Barn" donating many hours accepting, sorting, displaying and selling the generous donations we receive from the public. The "Barn" is our largest business enterprise that raises most of our funds. Our Candystriper program is a huge success, which gives our young people a wonderful opportunity to develop character and maturity. They are making a difference in our community and hopefully will be our future HAB volunteers. Not only is the primary purpose of the Auxiliary to raise funds for capital equipment for the Bermuda Hospitals Board, but also we provide service to both patients and the public in other areas.

New volunteers are always needed in all of our enterprises.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a happy festive season.

Yours sincerely,

JOSEPHINE WRIGHT

President, The Hospitals Auxiliary of Bermuda

Arguing for a healthy discount

December 9, 2006

Dear Sir,

I feel compelled to write to you about something very close to my heart. My spleen.

I look after my spleen well. I vent it regularly, provide it with nourishing food and take it for plenty of exercise. Yet not once has my insurance company written to advise me that, due to the healthy colour of my spleen, they are giving me a large discount on my premiums.

I got a 60 percent discount on car insurance even before entering the building. Had I mentioned that I don't own a mobile phone or have a 300 watt sound system in the car I'm sure that would have jumped to 95 percent.

With health costs rising at more than double the rate of inflation, wouldn't it make sense to reward those who take care of themselves and don't insist on a full-body scan every time they get a paper cut?

Yours in the pink,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

Time to grow up, Dr. Brown

December 5, 2006

Dear Sir,

Back in the seventies and eighties, the PLP Opposition vigorously protested the methods employed by the UBP governing party when raising money for election campaigns. PLP protests were heard by the bigger local companies which decided to donate equal amounts of money to both major political parties ? this was a good thing.

Either the PLP argument (pre-1998) for fair play and campaign reform were rank hypocrisy, or the PLP Government doesn't hold to the same standards as that of the PLP when in Opposition. Either way, Bermuda is on a very slippery slope.

Most of us know that Premier Brown is an intelligent man ? (more than capable of passing a Bermuda medical exam) ? what he now needs to do is grow up and apply that intelligence judiciously instead of setting out to prostitute Bermuda's good reputation so that he can outdo the UBP of l970.

POPULIST

Paget

Too much protesting

December 9, 2006

Dear Sir,

A note to Dr. Brown...

Methinks thou dost protest too much!

'Nuff said.

LIZ

Pembroke