Hooray for Smith

July 14, 2004

Dear Sir,

Calvin Smith must be congratulated for writing such an insightful and thought provoking opinion piece (Wednesday, July 14) of the serious flaws inherent in the new work permit policies. After careful analysis of statistical facts, he has arrived at a highly credible result; a result seemingly at odds with current political ideology.

His call for the abolition of term limits on work permits through detailed analysis and examination, makes sharp counterpoint to the knee-jerk, myopically insular, and quite frankly uninformed assertion that too many work permits are being issued, Bermudians are being disenfranchised, and expats should be thrown out after their six years of work because they are ?ruining? Bermuda.

Whilst it seems to be politically expedient by both parties to wear the badge of Bermudian rights? protector and saviour from the expat menace, the truth is that our lives, financial security and what has become a per capita income has the potential to be catastrophically affected if we follow through on six year term limits. We as a country would be better served if our politicians instead of figuring out ways to limit the growth, rather focus on ways of evolving as a country to continue harnessing this major income stream of our economy, generally known as international business.

The fact is the world is developing, just like it has forever, and things change. We as a country must evolve and change with it, or suffer the consequences. High rise apartment and office buildings, continued improvement in mass transit, and (gasp) a rethink on our moratorium on awarding Bermuda status to long serving community and country enriching individuals, must all be seriously considered.

I applaud Mr. Smith for having the courage to study the actual facts of the issue and not be swayed by histrionics and ?me first? chest beating. He comes to conclusions that may be unpopular to some Bermudians: ?...but these conclusions are valid and must be taken up for the betterment of our country and fellow Bermudians all I agree with him wholeheartedly.

A taste for UHT milk

July 13, 2004,

Dear Sir,

I?m writing in reference to the letter titled ?Lift UHT Milk Ban?. The Bermudian dairy product market is divided into two distinct groups, the local farmers and Dunkley?s Dairy, which suggest that the market place for dairy products such as milk is in no way over crowded. Milk that has been pasteurised by a special method involving Ultra High Temperatures is called UHT milk. This procedure lengthens the shelf life of the milk without changing the nutrient value. UHT milk does not need refrigeration until after it is opened. As we all know, fresh milk cannot be kept out of the fridge for more than a few hours before it goes off.

I don?t think that anyone needs to be reminded of Fabian and how many people with young babies where left with out electricity for some time and were in desperate need for milk. I don?t see the need to eliminate something which offers such advantages.

Another advantage of UHT milk is the ability to transport it long distances and to store it at destination (warehouses) without the need for expensive refrigeration methods. Supermarkets would save money in the long run on electricity bills, as well as reducing waste due to spoilage. Moreover, any person who needs milk and finds refrigeration difficult represents a potential customer for UHT Milk. Those customers as mentioned in the previous letter embody sailors and perhaps local fishermen. It makes a better froth for speciality drinks, such as cappuccino, and goes well with cereal. What?s more, it has been noted that there is more calcium and potassium in UHT milk than various other types of milk.

Agriculture and Fisheries having a ban a UHT would indicate Government views this product as a threat to local producers of milk; I view it as the opposite. When there is competition within a market, consumers have a genuine power of choice. It is important that this choice is informed and that consumers are not misled by deceptive or unfair practices. Therefore, local farmers and Dunkley?s Dairy should not view the importation of UHT milk as a direct threat to their businesses, but as a means of satisfying consumers? desire for the product.

Having a local importer of UHT milk with a small niche in dairy market will not affect the local farmers and Dunkley?s Dairy in terms of their supremacy or their profit margin, because those domestic producers of milk have a greater competitive advantage in terms of pricing; by offering more competitive prices they make their products more accessible to the average consumer.

We are so conditioned to think that fresh milk is better and view everything else as suspicious. In fact the preparation of UHT milk kills all bacteria and spores while maintaining its nutritional value. It is time we change the way that we have been politically influenced. I have a taste for UHT milk. Got UHT Milk?

We must laugh at ourselves

July 1, 2004

Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to White Chick?s letter of June 30, 2004. I?m interested in knowing the motivation behind your letter. Perhaps it was that black filmmakers made the movie. If you feel the same way about movies starring Adam Sandler, Will Farrell, Jack Black and the like, and perhaps Saturday Night Live, then cool, but where are the letters about those movies or the movies made about stereotypes of other races?

Are you only offended because they (the Wayans brothers) so accurately portrayed those stereotypes of White Chicks? Did the movie hit a little too close to home? Did you actually watch the movie? If you did, you would know that they also make fun of the stereotypical black person, too.

And for the record, there are movies of Shanaenae n?em doing their nails and eating fried chicken and drinking forties made by both black and white filmmakers. Do you know why? Because those people exist in real life. I know White Chicks such as those in the movie, so what?

People should really learn how to laugh at themselves ? it alleviates some of the pressure. I still think your objection is solely because of who stars in the movie, and not that the movie is inaccurate. That smacks of racism, too, but I wouldn?t call you a racist because you?re just expressing your opinion.

I will just make this small suggestion. Take a film history lesson and see how many of the movies you?ve enjoyed exploited stereotypes of Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and other races. If it was made in Hollywood I can bet you (well maybe not now with the impending gambling laws and all) that white filmmakers have put the Mamies and Minstrels, gangbangers, Geishas and other blatant stereotypes of other races on screen for years. Alternatively, you can just like, not go and watch it, okay?

Walk in our shoes

July 8, 2004

Dear Sir,

I feel compelled to respond to a comment in a letter in today?s made by ?Film fan?. The writer states that ?I do not consider myself a racist as my heritage doesn?t allow it?. To that I say, Yeah, hang on to that dream! Of what heritage could one be that precludes them from racist attitudes and behaviour? I certainly have not found one yet. Maybe what ?Film Fan? should try is to emulate the antics of the Wayans brothers and make themselves up to be ?white?, if in fact they are not!

Spend a week or so round and about the streets of this island and then report back to us as to how much abuse they took from out of control black drivers with racist death threats and plenty of ?white ***ch? being hurled on a daily basis. Notice how common it is to be pushed off sidewalks by blacks with a blatant attitude problem that refuse to learn how to side step? How about the level of service from blacks that openly hate whites?

Now that the individual is temporarily white would they also suddenly notice the numerous tasteless, racist and sexist slogans all over cars and other vehicles? Also would they suddenly see how openly hostile our current government is to people that ?don?t look like them?? Or realise that the last election campaign run by the PLP was nothing more than a very blatant stirring of the racism pot? A campaign that their supporters responded to brilliantly!

Seeing that it was a media event that brought this topic to the fore allow me to close with this question. If whites were so evil as we would be led to believe, then where, by name, are the white equivalents of ?BET?, ?Ebony?, Soul Sisters?, JET and ?Black Planet.com? to name just a few? On second thoughts, you ?Film Fan? be a white who lived a very sheltered life!