It would appear that local mail as well as international mail must now be travelling via London. My Cablevision bill, dated January 1, arrived today, the 18th of January. Is this a record? ICONOCLAST Southampton Privileged to attend January 6, 1999 Dear Sir, Please allow me this space to express publicly my gratitude to everyone responsible for the recent official opening reception for the (new) Ruth Seaton James Centre for the Performing Arts. It was a well-organised and memorable event and I counted it a privilege to have been invited to represent her family.

I'm sure my mother never dreamed or anticipated that her accomplishments would have been recognised and fully supported by the community in such fashion. I'm certain she would have been both proud and humbled, as we, her family were.

Many thanks to former educators, Mrs. Dorothy Thompson and Mrs. Carol Hill, for their respective roles in naming and using the original school auditorium; to Mrs. Georgine Hill for the magnificent oil painting that hangs beautifully in the entrance; to Dr. Marion Robinson and her staff at the Ministry for retaining the name and preserving the picture; Mr. Garry Madeiros and Mrs.

Sandra Cann of the CedarBridge Board of Governors for organising the wonderful programme, and to the CedarBridge students.

A very special thanks to Madame Premier, the Hon. Jennifer Smith for her spontaneous and generous gesture in inviting my sons to join her in cutting the ribbon. And finally to the Bermuda community for keeping her memory alive with that unique rallying support and encouragement that is reserved for sons and daughters of the soil.

The family of the late Ruth Seaton James is indebted to all of you. God bless.

MRS. EVELYN RUTH JAMES BARNETT DR. JONI SEATON CHARLES and THE FAMILY OF RUTH SEATON JAMES New Year's blame unfair January 21, 1999 Dear Sir, People always seem to remember the negative things that are said about others, but I am hoping that this letter helps to shed some positive memories about the things I wrote in my letter dated January 2, 1999. Since that letter appeared in the `Letters to the Editor' column, I have had the pleasure of meeting with the two gentlemen behind Master Rhythm Productions and Zintech International.

During our conversation, I was made aware of the challenges they had faced in preparation of the event held at Southampton Princess on New Year's Eve. With the proposed schedule now in hand, I can tell you that, if things had gone as planned, the night would have been a tremendous success. However, as is often the case in Bermuda, when locals are trying to do something, very little support is given at the onset of the project.

In my first letter I did not mention some of the other participating artists.

There was a special significance to Ralph Richardson presenting the Bermuda Performing Arts Humanitarian Awards to recipient Vernon (Ghandi) Burgess.

Since his younger days, Mr. Richardson had watched and listened to Mr.

Burgess, for musical guidance and inspiration, thereby further developing a love and understanding of music and horn playing.

Janice Nelson, pianist/vocalist performed stirring renditions of well-known tunes, the second song accompanied by local vocalist, Steve Darrell. Mrs.

Nelson made her Bermuda debut that night.

In retrospect, and after discussion with the principals of the production, it is evident that the negative aspects of the show were beyond their control.

They cannot be held accountable for the lack of adequate staffing for such an event.

Since my negative observations about the production were made publicly, I am hoping that you would also print these positive comments about the two men behind the event. I intend to support these two, and all local artists and producers, in future endeavours, and I leave you, and them, with this quote from Goethe -- "What you can do, or dream you can, begin it; boldness has genius, power and magic in it.'' MICHAEL D. FOX City of Hamilton Paying for poor service January 15, 1999 Dear Sir, I think there is a problem in Bermuda with some doctors. We as paying patients should be able to go to the doctor for check-ups and get a complete checkup, not a halfway job. For instance, if you are complaining about a headache, your doctor should do all the tests there are to be done to find out what the real problem is. Not just say it's a migraine and take two or three pills and go home and rest and call it a day and later, down the road, you find out that it's a worse situation than you were told. For instance, I went to a doctor for a foot problem. I told the doctor how I managed to hurt it. My foot was so bad that I barely could walk on it. It felt like I had broken it. I was told that it was badly sprained. It was wrapped up with gauze and I was told to go home and stay off of it and put ice on it. I was not told to go for an X-ray or anything.

Two weeks had gone by and I still had problems with my foot. I went to another doctor and he said it felt like it was broken. He called my doctor to get him to write up a form for the hospital, (where I should have gone from the start). I go to the hospital and what do you know, it was broken. The doctor wanted me to come back to him the next day for a follow-up visit. What for, I don't know. My foot was in an air cast. I go to the doctor and all I was asked was a few questions, (which I could have been asked on the phone). And I had to pay for the visit! After I got the cast off I had to go for physiotherapy.

A few months go by and I get the bill for the doctor. I call and question it.

The doctor said: "We cannot have a doctor-patient relationship anymore, I suggest you find another doctor.'' As a doctor, you would think that he would be nice to his patients, after all, he was the one to make the wrong diagnosis. And I am paying for this kind of service? LET'S GET IT RIGHT Somerset Let's get back to God January 24, 1999 Dear Sir, "For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.'' -- 2 Corinthians 13:8 In January 1995, the Department of Health and Social Services held a conference with the theme, "Blow The Whistle on Abuse''. In February, 1995, as a result of this conference, I wrote a paper entitled, "Blow the Whistle on Spiritual Abuse''. I shared this paper with Mrs. Sheelagh Cooper and she in turn put me in touch with Superintendent Vic Richmond of the Bermuda Police Force and Mr. Tony McWilliams, a reporter for the Bermuda Sun.

On September 15, 1995, the Bermuda Sun sold out of this edition of its paper when Mr. McWilliams' article appeared. It was entitled, "Claims of Abuse at Cult Church''. Why? Alas, the article was sensational. Did Bermudians seriously respond to the seriousness of the "anointings'' contained in the article? What was this all about? Four years later, I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that it was not about the "anointings'', but I've realised that it was my lot to sink to the lowest level to which a woman can be debased in order to expose the religious corruption that existed and still exists today. This was the price I had to pay so that I could be exalted to the highest level and work with one of the world's leading educational reformers, Dr. Donald Howard, the past founder of School of Tomorrow and presently the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Eagle Educational Reform Learning Systems, Inc. in Lewisville, Texas.

In fact, Dr. Donald Howard was one of the few clergy that responded to my claim of spiritual abuse. In a letter dated August 9, 1996, Dr. Howard stated: "Please understand how deeply I am hurting for you. I read the newspaper copy you sent, and I am overwhelmed with disappointment with what you and others are subjected to.'' He continued: "The Executive Office had no knowledge of any of this until today, and we grieve with you over such a humanistic, unscriptural calamity in the name of religion. But, that's what it is -- only religion -- certainly not Biblical.'' Sad to say, the church was noticeably silent on this issue. Silence is acceptance. Consequently, I pointed my finger at God and said, "God, how can we have `unity of the spirit' when our children, our black children especially, are subjected to a failing, inferior, second-rate education system? "God, I'll know that You are a God of Love, a God of Truth, and a God of Mercy and You really care for the education of Bermuda's black children when You will allow the world-class, diagnostically-prescribed, individualised, mastery-level curriculum and programme, laced with character-building traits to be rightfully placed in Bermuda and removed from its present position of being in a cult church.'' Until this happens, our children in the pubic school system will continue to be involved in mini-riots, be rebellious, disobedient, disrespectful and above all be void of the fear of God.

When I attended the Central School, now the Victor F. Scott Primary School, in spite of the deplorable, dilapidated, over-crowded and inferior conditions, learning had the order of the day. Morning assemblies consisted of singing those old heart-felt, familiar children's songs.

This was followed by reciting such well-known Bible passages as the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, Psalm 23 and Psalm 121. The headmaster gave positive words of encouragement and admonition about character-building traits, such as punctuality, diligence, determination, honesty and loyalty. Then, quietly and orderly, we filed back to our classrooms to complete the day's work. While it was not termed a "Christian School'' in those days, we were very God-conscious, and that attitude deeply influenced our thoughts, words and actions.

Discipline was enforced at all costs and disrespect for teachers was not tolerated in any shape or form either by the school or the home. The strap or cane was readily available to assist those pupils who refused to toe the line.

Students were sent to school to learn, and under no circumstances would there be any departure from that position. There was a no-nonsense attitude perpetuated by the sterling, thoroughbred Bermudian and West Indian teachers of those days. Teaching was not a job. Somehow, the teachers of those days seemed to regard teaching as a divine calling. They acted as if they were accountable to God for the lives of the children entrusted to their care.

We need a system that will restore our children, "Back to God! Back to parents! Back to Basics! And Back to the Individual! Deeply-concerned about Bermuda's children, DR. MURIEL M. WADE-SMITH Smith's Parish