November 13, 2002

Dear Sir,

On Monday I read the opinion of Gavin Shorto on the importance of making appropriate choices. Having been satisfied that the opinion and the principle on which it is based are sound, please allow me to use your column to ask the St. George's Foundation, "Why a bale of cotton?"

I have been made to understand that during the American Civil War Bermuda exchanged ammunition with the Confederate States for cotton, which in turn was traded in England. The exchanges were made in the Town of St. George's. Recalling Mr. Shorto's admonition to make appropriate choices, I am impelled to ask if the bale of cotton, symbolic as it is intended to be, is the appropriate choice of article on which to expand the image of St. George's. The recent letter of Mr. John Zuill gave a very apt description of the socio-political issues in Bermuda that we all refuse to confront sensibly and without emotion. In spite of that article the Foundation proposes to ask assistance from a government, who through no fault of their own fit the description of Mr. Zuill, to support their presentation of a bale of cotton as the symbolic exchange for rental. Why not manilla bangles or coloured beads? Or more appropriately why not use caution and good reasoning and the advice of Mr. Shorto to make a better choice?

STANLEY G. KENNEDY