Toughen up, soldier

March 15, 2010

Dear Sir,

I should like to make a few comments regarding the new recruit that finds a soldier's life just too difficult to bear. For goodness sake man, tough it up, it will make you a better person. Let's compare what you now have regarding training, and what we had when I volunteered back in the mid-1950s. You have the latest of weapons, and equipment, and go to England, North Carolina, and Jamacia for further training. We in the Bermuda Rifles had 303 Lee Enfield rifles, a few Bren guns, and Second World War uniforms. Most if not all training was held in Bermuda. For our annual Warwick Camp two weeks of training, we marched from The Armoury in Hamilton with full equipment.

Yes, we had long days, and an early 6 a.m.morning swim at Long Bay, in February. We also heard some bad language on the parade square, and in the barracks. If you have attended a movie lately, or walked down one of your busy streets, have you heard swearing there too?

Finally, when your much older you will say what a fun time it was, and what good friends you made; I did.

D.M.WILLIAMS

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Terrible treatment

March 15, 2010

This was sent to Premier Dr. Ewart Brown and copied to The Royal Gazette.

Dear Sir,

I am just writing to draw your attention to a short letter to the editor in today's Royal Gazette which speaks volumes. Basically it encapsulates the terrible experiences of our young men at that most corrupt institution headquartered at Warwick Camp.

In the letter a young man describes excessive profanity being directed at the conscripts in a manner which is obviously intended to humiliate and demean them.

To add insult to injury they are also referred to as certain part of a woman's anatomy (he is more specific) which is the most vulgar term one can use to describe a young man. But it doesn't stop there as the young men are called "fa___ots", the most homophobic term wouldn't you agree?

So how many human and constitutional rights have been violated so far? A few at least.

But what I would like to ask you is how the aforementioned can be included within the context of the love of Christ you spoke so gloriously of just prior to Christmas 2009.

Only three weeks later two hundred young men, all victims of this current corrupt system of conscription, are subjected to such profanity and vulgarity from the time they rise to the time they go to sleep.

If this does not show your hypocrisy on this issue and stoic indifference to the suffering of young citizens of this country then nothing will. As a politician you can be excused for doing what is politically expedient but please Mr. Premier, do not quote from the Lord Jesus Christ about love on the one hand and then on the other endorse a system which is the anti-thesis to that love. That sir is to take dishonesty to a whole another level.

LARRY MARSHALL SR.

Warwick