Disciple sent by God

March 6, 2009

Dear Sir,

I agree with Pat Ferguson's letter to the Editor of March 4, 2009. You don't realise how "sick" some people are towards the new President of the United States of America, until you have the same things said to you about this President who is doing his upmost to not only improve the lot of his own citizens, but also the citizens of many countries of our world. To me, Barack Obama is the disciple sent by God to improve our world, he has the integrity of a statesman, he reminds me very much of Winston Churchill during the Second World War, who kept people together, to defeat the undesirables of our world. All I can say to the non-believers is "cool it", give this great man a chance, I'm sure he will change the minds of the non-believers eventually.

PETER BROMBY SR.

Paget

We can't afford this decline

March 6, 2009

Dear Sir,

A decade ago, whenever adults got onto a bus and all seats were taken, children stood for adults. Today when adults get on a bus and all seats are taken, children ignore their presence and adults are forced to stand. A decade ago, children who stood for adults paid fare. Today children do not pay fare yet they refuse to stand for adults who pay fare. A decade ago children who used profanity in the presence of adults were reprimanded. Today children openly use profanity in the presence of adults without fare of reprimand.

A decade ago, it was OK for a village to raise a child. Today if the village attempts to raise the child; the threat of child abuse is quickly thrown their way. A decade ago, we were an island whose moral standards were known around the world. Today we have let the world influence our morality. Legislation influenced by foreign standards prevents many Bermudians from disciplining their children and the Biblical warning of sparing the rod and spoiling the child is rearing its ugly head.

Have we become so desensitised by television and the radio that we ignore our culture, our pride? Has the Bermudian culture changed so much that adults no longer care what our visitors think of our children? Change is inevitable, but change without moral ethics/standards leads to disaster. In an island as small as ours, can we truly afford to allow our moral ethics/standards to decline?

CULTURE SHOCK

Paget

Traffic troubles

March 2, 2009

Dear Sir,

When one returns to this land after being away for several weeks it hits you how really, really bad the driving habits are on our roads, and it shouldn't because we have been complaining about this for many years. What is obvious now is the "Couldn't Care Less Attitude" of the majority of drivers and riders.

The first thing we saw was at the junction of Cedar Avenue and Dundonald Street, a place of many accidents. A bus pulled away from the bus stop and went straight through the light that was all ready red, and a few days ago at the same spot, while we were waiting for the light to change a bike cruised by us and drifted slowly over the white line and passed the red light and was half way across the junction when the light turned green. Nobody wants to wait for a few seconds. Nobody wants to "pause" let alone "Stop" coming out of a side street, and on and on it goes.

Another bad area is the gateway to Saltus School. For people coming from St. John's Road there is a clear sign that says, "No right Turn", yet you see drivers making that turn dozens of times a day and nobody stops them. Being one of the ever growing "handicapped drivers" I find it appalling how many "couldn't care less drivers" who are not handicapped will park in these reserved spaces. A good example is Lindo's in Warwick when every Wednesday, which is a big shop day, you will most certainly find a Bank Van or a delivery truck parked in that space.

Of course, this attitude starts with the top man of the country and now reaches down to the schoolchildren. I am no fan of Col. Burch but I have to give him "three cheers". (and I don't believe I said that) for the stance he is taking with the Police. These are drastic times and drastic measures must be taken. and we don't need Members of our UBP telling him to quit and soften up, which has been happening up to date when "everybody" should be working together to make this Island liveable again. There has been some criticism of late against those of us who use pen names, well my reason is as follows. a number of years ago when I started writing to your paper I always printed out my full name but after receiving some intimidating responses I said to myself, "Who needs this?", so I started using a pen name, especially these days when you are just as likely to get a brick thrown through your window, so I remain ...

SEEING IT AS IT IS

Pembroke

Website woes

March 6, 2009

Dear Sir,

In early January of this year I wrote to you about the sad state of Tourism's website and you printed my comments in your January 14 edition of The Royal Gazette under Visitor's View. You also included an Editor's Note: The tourism website has been updated since this letter. At that time, the only update I could find was the removal of the $300 companion air credit that had expired March 31,2008.

Two months later the tourism website has more outdated information than up-to-date information. Searching through the website there is still information that is dated 2007 and 2008.

At least weekly, The Royal Gazette publishes an article related to tourism and it usually has to do with the continued decline in tourism numbers. Other than those who work for the Department of Tourism I haven't read or heard anyone who feels the Government is doing much to help the tourism industry on the Island. Your Premier seems to talk a lot about tourism but like the tourism website his actions are out-of-date.

Bermuda's tourism competitors in the Caribbean are offering incentives like two nights free out of seven nights, 30 percent to 50 percent discount and many other dollar savings credits. It would appear that many Bermudians think this economic decline will magically disappear, hotel beds will be filled and Bermudians will all be happily employed. Only one problem, even in good times tourists are using the Internet 86 percent of the time when they book their holiday. You would think by now that hotel management and Tourism would have made sure Bermuda Tourism is represented by an attractive up-to-date website, not a website that potential visitors give up on out of frustration.

EVE MERMAN

Toronto, Ontario