No place for drag queenMay 17, 2006Dear Sir,I am writing this letter in regards to a recent article that I read in a rival newspaper that I feel was not in the slightest way newsworthy and was simply used as a publicity stunt. So yes, I will give this article some attention as I feel that many different interests groups in Bermuda need to be woken up and start becoming more involved in the issues that are affecting our island.

First, I would like to congratulate Mr. Allan Warner for his role in preventing the so-called “professional” drag queen from performing with the Gombeys in this year’s Bermuda Day parade. Exactly, what is a “professional” drag queen? I feel that the need for me to ask this type of question highlights the greater influence that America is having on Bermuda. The negative influence that America is having on Bermuda makes it seem OK for individuals to engage in behaviour that is simply unnatural.

I feel that the majority of black Bermudians detest this type of lifestyle, but choose not to make their feelings known because it doesn’t directly affect them. But guess what? Now this type of behaviour is affecting us in our Bermuda Day parade. A parade that has rich history dating back many, many, years minus any “professional” drag queens. Some people are mad at the fact that foreigners are taking part in our parade. I am upset that a man who wished that he were a woman is allowed to participate. No parent in their right mind desires to raise a child to be a “professional” drag queen so why should we give signals to our children that this type of lifestyle is acceptable?

With that said, I now want to highlight the various sectors in our community who do not agree with this type of lifestyle, but are too scared to voice their opinions. I very much respect the Rastafarian way of life and the values that it teaches, but it seems that the Rastafarians in Bermuda do not make their voices heard when it comes to issues such as this. I challenge this group to take a more active role in the island of Bermuda.

Another, more influential group in our island that does not agree with the homosexual lifestyle is the Christian church. It is long overdue for this sector in our community to take up the mantle with regards to many issues, especially this one. I hope and pray that the Christians in Bermuda begin to flex their muscle and have a dynamic affect on our island like in years gone by.

There are other segments in our community who tend to shy away from issues such as this, but I challenge Bermudians to take a more active role in showing their disapproval for this type of lifestyle.

Some may say that I am “homophobic”. I feel this way because most people do not fear homosexuals, which is what phobia refers to. Many people simply do not approve of this type of lifestyle and do not think it has a place in Bermuda. I challenge all of Bermuda to send a positive message to our children by promoting a lifestyle that doesn’t consists of a man who finds pleasure in wearing women’s clothes.

TEMPLE U

Hamilton Parish<$>Backwards decisionMay 18, 2006Dear Sir,The unbelievable mealy-mouthed, partisan decision of the HRC concerning the “house n**gers” statement from David Burch is further proof that this body should be disbanded. Its members are an affront to everything that is Human Rights, and the very people that have been complaining about the racially charged invective of years gone by have in one stroke legalised that very behaviour.

Very clearly, I have now been given the legal right to reefer to anyone I choose with the ‘n’ word without sanction, a decision that takes us back 200 years. HRC now stands for Human Rights Catastrophe.

PHIL CRACKNELL

St. George’s<$>HRC a waste of time May 18, 2006Dear Sir,I think all of the board members in the Human Rights Commission should resign in shame. To allow Sen. Burch to get away with using the term “house n......” on his radio show is criminal.

I was utterly appalled when I learned that he had actually used such a derogatory and demeaning term and honestly thought he would deny ever having said it, but no such denial was made. Burch is obviously quite proud of this disgusting terminology made towards a black person. It is reprehensible.

Then, in my naivete, I thought the Human Rights Commission would make a strong statement letting Senator Burch know that his wording is definitely not acceptable. Another shock! The Human Rights Commission board members felt that was nothing illegal about his statement and furthermore (without actually naming her) went on to chastise Mrs. Gordon Pamplin for daring to actually make a complaint.

I urge all of the PLP supporters, PLP Ministers and Cabinet Members to please speak out against this violation. If you remain quiet, one can only surmise that your agree with Sen. Burch.

What I would like the Human Rights Commission board members to answer is what you would do if a white person used the same derogatory term to a black person. Remember what happened to the general manager of the Elbow Beach Hotel who was supposed to have said (although he categorically denied it) “the next thing they’ll be doing is frying chicken on the steps”. Because he is supposed to have made that comment, he was dragged into a Tribunal and was eventually forced to leave Bermuda. The HRC should be disbanded immediately — it is a toothless body and a waste of time and money.

CAMELOT

City of Hamilton<$>Where’s the justice?May 16, 2006Dear Sir,The value and measure of a society is its judicial conscience.

Justice to be done, not just seen to be done.

Pepe Dill’s pleaded for medical attention for seven hours which never came, so he died from his asthma attack. Becky Middleton was raped, sodomised and tortured and yet no one has been brought to justice for her death. Just to name a few.

Is there no “Spitzer-like” lawyer out there who would champion the Halls of Justice or Injustice?

Where do we rate on the scale of one to ten on this paradise island?

DIANA WILLIAMS

PembrokeCuba is a non-issueMay 19, 2006Dear Sir,I have no special insight into the American mind. However, in response to Mr. Guilden Gilbert (Royal Gazette, May 19) I believed at the time, and I believe now that the only reason that the American Consul in Bermuda had anything to say about the “Cuba issue” was because he felt some obligation to give support to the UBP politicians who were “ranting and raving” about the non-issue in the hope of stirring up American hostility toward a PLP Government.

The real hypocrisy in this case lay with the Bermudian politicians and other PLP critics. Because clearly all that he says was true and everyone knew that America was not letting human rights consideration get in their way in their trading relations with China.

Mr. Slayton probably feels the need for some consistency so he has made appropriate noises (he wasn’t responsible for the space or headlines in the Mid-Ocean News). All of us now know what he is responsible for! He is responsible for his intentions towards Bermuda under a PLP Government and the word “hostility” is not the word that comes to mind — Cuba or no Cuba!

While Bermudians need the education given by Mr. Gilbert’s letter perhaps he, himself, does not need to attach so much “foreign policy” importance to a few comments of expediency by a Consul in Bermuda.

I believe that in this case all those Bermudians who have felt threatened with the potential of American wrath because of the PLP and the silly (in more ways than one) non-issue of Cuba by other Bermudians who have hoped to stir up American hostility towards the PLP can now accept that the American Consul has spoken for himself and what he had to say about Cuba was the least of what he has had to say, and, more importantly, what he has done.

Whatever one or more complex reasons has motivated Mr. Slayton, the PLP can regard his actions as a major “foreign policy” coup. I am not even going to say which they need to handle with wisdom since I do not know whether it was their “wisdom” or lack of it which had anything to do with it. One thing is certain Mr. Slayton’s actions can certainly diffuse some of the hysteria which gets stirred up over the Cuba non-issue!

EVA N. HODGSON

Hamilton Parish