Commissiong was racist

August 23

Dear Sir,

Mr. Commissiong seems to be under the mistaken impression that all white people are as he puts it "white supremacists".

He generalizes far too much. I, for one, love black and white people alike. For me, it's not about the colour of your skin, but about the state of your heart. I suspect that it is the same for many other Bermudians as well.

The reason I haven't voted for the PLP in the past is not because they are black, but because they very pointedly have made it perfectly clear to us that they do not represent white people. They take every opportunity to tear us down, ignore us to the point of utter rudeness, and accuse us of being racists even if we are not.

The PLP have not and do not care about the white people because they believe they don't need us. It's not about needing someone so much as it is about your duty to the entire country. I cannot in good conscience vote for someone who refuses to represent me.

Here's something to consider, how are we as Bermudians supposed to move on in healing between races when the person in charge of doing just that hates white people? When you make statements like, "While blacks do have the capacity to practice racism, historically, they have not done so. Even in those locations where blacks have taken on the mantle of power, internationally, where the society has been dominated by Europeans, blacks have not exercised racism."

Come on! That in itself is a racist statement. It's a generalisation that says you think blacks are better than whites. There are racists on both sides of the fence here. Until you start seeing people as just people and not blacks and whites you are racist. Mr. Commissiong says, "the worst racists are the ones that deny its existence." I say the worst racist is any racist at all.

There is no room for racism in Bermuda on either side. We are a small community. Racism and poor education should not even be an issue, and blame and hate mongering are not helping anyone except the egos of those who use it. Let's deal with it properly and finally so our children can move on and another generation is not left to deal with the dirt from the past as we have been. We are not born racists it is learned and the government is teaching it to this generation. Let's put a stop to this while we still can.

NON-RACIST WOMAN

Southampton

A less happy picture

August 26, 2007

Dear Sir,

Perhaps the next time the paper publishes a photo of a bunch of grinning fisherman all standing around a recently caught marlin, they should also publish a picture like this one?

I was heading out to Argus Bank to scuba dive last month, and found this trashed marlin, stinking at the Dockyard marina when we stopped to board divers.

If more people saw the incredible beauty of the underwater world, they would be less inclined to destroy these magnificent creatures.

It is indeed sad that when Japanese whaling ships blatantly break the law, the individual and the organisation that attempts to enforce the law, is labeled a "Terrorist?"

Hmmm?

I would encourage everyone to search the facts regarding the horrendous abuses in the whaling industry and the tragedy that is long line fishing.

KEN VICKERS

Pembroke

Un-bury your head

August 23

Dear Sir,

I have just finished reading the front-page article in your paper of today (August 23) on Mr. Burgess refuting claims of outsourcing of jobs.

My I respectfully suggest that Mr. Burgess buy and read a book entitled " The World is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman; "A brief history of the twenty-first century". If after reading the book, he still believes that the large exempt companies in Bermuda are not outsourcing jobs, he must have his head in the sand!

Bermuda is a constituent in a very competitive world, and if we are to compete and maintain our present standard of living, we must understand that the six-year work permit policy implemented by this Government is wrong. I implore the Government to admit it is wrong and revoke it immediately.

WARWICK VOTER

Heaven forbid lager louts

August 23

Dear Sir,

As a longstanding UK visitor to your beautiful Island, just recently returned, I was interested to read about your boost to tourism resulting from Zooms' competition on the UK route.

In my mind, whilst this will be good for your economy, and also giving more people the opportunity to appreciate and experience such a charming part of the world, I'm also concerned that with the strong value of Sterling, and the low cost of flights (now equivalent to a flight to Spain) you may see an influx of the worst kind of British visitor — the so-called "lager louts". Heaven forbid! This would spoil the whole image of Bermuda, and would be unpleasant for both locals and genuine tourists.

As long as the hotels don't try to compete on prices, the cost of staying on the Island may deter the "wrong" kind of visitor — I hope!

Meanwhile, I'm planning my 2008 trip.

CHRIS BECKETT

Woodhurst, Water Lane,

West Runton, Norfolk, UK

Watch out for the weeds

August 23

Dear Sir,

Bermuda's roads were always well kept and the road crews did a wonderful job of keeping the island clean and tidy.

Nowadays, weeds are growing alongside the walls and edges of the roads which make the island look like some third world country. Can some of the money, currently being spent on PR salaries, be diverted to road clean up crews? Money is out there, but is spent on too many Government cars and endless paper handouts, which are not environmentally friendly.

ANTONY SIESE

Paget

Dangers of bulbs

August 23, 2007

Dear Sir,

I read the article in The Royal Gazette this morning about fluorescent bulbs.

The Daily Courier (Kelowna, B.C) also has an article about the problems with fluorescent bulbs which you might like to view.

"Mercury is essential to the operation of fluorescent lighting as well as the popular compact fluorescent light bulbs, and there is currenty no practical alternative to the mercury. As a result of the mercury, fluorescent tubes and bulbs should be considered hazardous waste and shouldn't be thrown into the garbage."

W.A. (Toppy) COWEN

Kelowna, British Columbia