Where's the sorbet gone?

October 25, 2010

Dear Sir,

Are there any other Haagen Dazs Sorbet flavours in existence other than Mango? Allow me to expound; a little over eight years ago, someone introduced me to Haagen Dazs Sorbet and I was hooked. Since the closure of the Simmons Ice Cream Plant, I really missed the crisp, refreshing, fruity treat that we had all come to love, known as Sherbet. Fortunately, there was Haagen Dazs Sorbet to fill the gap, so, the pain of not being able to indulge in such sweet, tangy, goodness was lessened. Almost every week I would enjoy a pint of Strawberry or Raspberry or Peach Sorbet and in a bind, when there those flavours were not available, I would pick Lemon as a last resort. Not being a fan of Mango (I know, I know, you're probably thinking, "What Bermudian doesn't like Mango?", well I don't and while we're at it, I don't like pawpaw or avocados either) but I digress, not being a fan of Mango, the Mango-flavoured Sorbet was not even an option for me, whether it was available or not.

A little while later I went off to college and being a "broke-college-student" luxuries like Sorbet were never on my shopping list. The day finally came when I obtained my degree and I returned home. I was oh-so-excited to be able to resume my love affair with Haagen Dazs Sorbet again. Imagine my surprise when the first store I went into only had Mango available. No biggie, I thought I'll just pick up my beloved Sorbet from another store the next time I'm out running errands. However that was not going to be the case, like a bad, recurring dream, every single store I went into was ever so inconveniently stocked with, what else? Mango Sorbet. That was almost four years ago and to this day, whenever I am in the frozen section of a store I keep a hopeful eye out for a Strawberry, Raspberry, Peach and at this point, even a lemon-flavoured Haagen Dazs Sorbet, but alas I am continually meet with the mocking, ice-cold-stare of that darned Mango Sorbet. Where has all the sorbet gone? Do you know? Do you?....

J. STOVELL

Pembroke Parish

Que sera sera ...

October 25, 2010

Dear Sir,

With a change of leadership imminent, I considered it advisable to brush up on the foreign phrases beloved of politicians. So, whether the current quid pro quo is succeeded by the enfant terrible, the persona non grata or the plus ca change ...

Illegitimis non carborundum,

ANDREW R. DOBLE

Hamilton Parish

Country before party

October 25, 2010

Dear Sir,

I have to confess that today's Royal Gazette letters to the editor appeared like a synchronised effort to dismiss Minister Paula Cox's eligibility for Premier of Bermuda. Now I realise, Mr. Editor, that when a topic is hot, it is journalistic style to print letters in groups. My presumption by the dates of the letters is that it was orchestrated and not necessarily by The Royal Gazette. I too was shocked when the Finance Minister used the term "cog in the wheel". However, I am not going to judge her entire political career on this one statement. If we could blend all the positive attributes of Dale Butler, Paula Cox and Terry Lister together then maybe we would have the perfect leader that comes our way maybe every couple of decades. But that's not life.

One thing I can say with confidence is that Minister Cox is honest. And that, Mr. Editor, is high up on my list of priorities. Even better, would be throwing out the Westminster way of electing our island's leader. Our current Constitution allows the political party in power to choose Bermuda's Premier. It would be more unifying for our island, if every Bermudian voter went to the polls to elect the Premier from the party in power regardless of their political affiliation or non-political affiliation. The Central Committee and a good portion of the Members of Parliament of the Progressive Labour Party have not improved the quality of life of the working and middle income families of our island. Hopefully the new leader of the PLP will put country before party.

CHERYL POOLEY

Smith's

Unfair voting system

October 20, 2010

Dear Sir,

Personally and I'm certain I speak for many of my fellow Bermudians, why should we care who is selected to lead the PLP? None of us "regular" people of this Country have a vote regarding who the new leader of the PLP is, since only those chosen can vote for the new leader and from all speculation, those who are chosen are dictated to as far as who they vote for. How on earth is this for the better of Bermuda when the majority of Bermuda wouldn't vote for any of the three candidates on order. I can honestly assure you if the whole population had a vote in regards to Ewart Brown vs almost anyone else, he would have been out many years ago ... but of course us "regular" people who should matter do not have a say. Those of you who are "chosen" and reap the benefits of voting for whom you're instructed to vote for are just as guilty for the trials and tribulations which this country is facing today.

I wish the news would just stop reporting about this voting debacle when us "regular" people do not care about it since we have no say ... Give us a say and then maybe we will be more attentive as to who leads the country into the next years.

Paula Cox – no way

Terry Lister – no way

Dale Butler – maybe, due to the way he turned a once decrepit St. George's Secondary around.

Let us "regular" people vote for who we want to run the country and I'm sure you'll see better results!

OPPOSED TO WESTMINSTER SYSTEM

Hamilton Parish

Recommended reading

October 21, 2010

Dear Sir,

I am planning a trip to Bermuda and will arrive next week. Usually when I go to a new place, I have some context for that place, and usually the ideas I have of a place have been formed by reading fiction from or about that place. As to Bermuda, I am at sea in this regard. Can you or your readers suggest the quintessential Bermudan novel for one like myself to read before or during a stay in Bermuda?

WHIT HENDON

Boston, Massachusetts

Editor's note: Please send suggestions to letters@royalgazette.bm and they will be forwarded to Mr. Hendon.

A matter of interpretation

October 21, 2010

Dear Sir,

I recently read a letter to the editor (please forgive me, I didn't save the paper and can't find the letter online) in which the letter's author sought to remind the public that the annual celebration of Halloween was a very "un-Christian" celebration based on pagan symbolism. The author pointed to symbols such as skeletons and blood as evidence that Halloween was an evil celebration. Revelling in the irony, I would like to respectfully point out that our own Christian faith holds sacred iconography that includes a corpse nailed to a cross while participating in rituals that involve drinking the blood of and eating the body of a man who rose from the dead three days after his death. Obviously the level of evil inherent in a cultural tradition is completely dependent on interpretation and frame of reference. Respectfully, I suggest a better message might be one of tolerance of the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of others. I, for one, will be sinfully enjoying my chocolate on Halloween without fear of incurring the wrath of God.

ANDREW D. WOODWORTH

Paget

The roots of Halloween

October 20, 2010

Dear Sir,

This letter is in response to "Absolutely un-Christian" by Vic Veritas published on Oct. 19th. I would encourage you to check your history before accusing people of "communing with the devil". It would make sense that Halloween is "un-Christian" since the holiday was celebrated long before Christian influence. That fact alone would also dismiss your claim that Halloween partygoers are participating in some form of cooperation with the devil as the devil is a Christian character. You are also wrong to state that Halloween should not concern fear and death when in actuality, those were the foundations of the original holiday.

The Halloween we know today is a mix of Celtic practices, Catholic and Roman religious rituals, and European traditions. Thousands of years ago the Celts celebrated the New Year on November 1 signifying the end of summer and the beginning of the uncertain winter. They believed that on New Year's Eve (October 31st) the worlds of the living and the dead collided and the dead returned to Earth to spend time with loved ones or to cause trouble and damage crops. This day, called Samhain, was especially important to the Celts as they believed it was easier for priests to make predictions about the future of their crops and livelihood. During Samhain the Celts would wear costumes and celebrate around a sacred bonfire to help ensure protection during the harsh winter. By AD 43, Romans had conquered most of the Celtic territory in Europe and eventually combined their Feralia and Pomona festivals with the Celtic Samhain. Feralia commemorated the passing of the dead and Pomona honored the goddess of fruit and trees.

By the 800s Christian influence had finally reached Roman/Celtic lands and in the 7th century Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 (Celtic New Year) as "All Saints Day," a time to honour saints and martyrs. This action by the pope was a direct attempt to replace the Samhain festival of the dead with a similar Christian holiday. In AD 1000 the church designated November 2 as "All Souls Day" to honor the dead and was celebrated with traditional Samhain festivities such as bonfires and dressing up as saints, angels, and devils.

As different European ethnic groups immigrated to America in the 19th century, Halloween beliefs and customs meshed together and an American version was born. Parties were held to celebrate the harvest that included telling stories of the dead, fortune telling, dancing, and singing. Trick or treating can be traced back to the All Souls Day parades in England where the poor would beg for food and money and families would give them "soul cakes" in return for their promise to pray for the dead relatives. In the 1920s trick or treating also became an inexpensive way for the community to share in the celebration. Dressing in costume can be attributed to both European and Celtic backgrounds.

On Halloween night, it was thought that if you went out of your house you may encounter a spirit. People would disguise themselves with masks so that they would be mistaken for fellow spirits. It was not a Christian holiday that over time became "dangerously paganised," but rather one of the many innocent holidays celebrated by an alternate belief that were subject to Christian conversion.

Just because certain holidays or celebrations are not Christian does not mean they are negative, "anti-Christian", or associated with the devil. A solution for those who wish not to be associated with such traditions can simply not participate.

KRISTAN

Southampton

Hospital too expensive

October 21, 2010

Dear Sir,

There appears to be a lack of comment as critique within the media concerning the new hospital building, bearing in mind this is an estimated $315 million expenditure being undertaken by a team of successful bidders with little if anything known by the Public of the financing or the financing costs. Originally the disclosed material released by the Bermuda Hospitals Board stated that the cost was not to exceed $265 million and thus the question – or at least one of them is – how come the figure is now $315 million? Some say this figure includes the $50 million being spent upon the renovation of the existing KEMH facilities but clarification is needed.

It should be understood this new "build" will be owned by the project company for no less than 30 years and during this period, leased to the Bermuda Hospitals Board in exchange for periodic amounts that not only equal the cost of the construction but also the cost of maintaining the building for this 30-year period, provide a profit for the Developers et al and has to anticipate any unforeseen happenings – otherwise referred to as fat.

The new building, which is in effect an addition to the existing King Edward VII Memorial Hospital complex (save for a small area to be demolished) is Phase I – with Phase II to follow at a time yet to be determined – will provide for 90 private suites of single occupancy, which in doing the math works out at a cost of $3.50m per suite. These 90 suites will replace 90 "beds" that are currently occupied by KEMH patients – possibly the Continuing Care patients. Where are they to go, may one ask – another building to be built?

The new building suites – as said, are of the private room variety – first class, for which the Board in accordance with the set out fees Schedule, will look to the Insurers and the patient to pay for – an increase in revenue from that presently being obtained from the Public Ward daily rate. Has anybody traced the dots yet? What really is the purpose – or purposes – of this new "build"? An extravaganza indeed with a lobby akin one might say, to that within the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Does anyone have any idea of the increased health costs – have the public been warned? Such are to fall upon the public by way of increased premiums, deductibles and increased taxes. Will it all be worthwhile and whom is to benefit most?

ENQUIRING MIND

St. George's

We have the power

October 25, 2010

Dear Sir,

"Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." - Thomas Paine

This recent fiasco by our government over the money spent on TCD is yet another glaring sign of what happens when you allow people totally inept for a position to continue to keep said position. Millions over spent. This is not the first time and it will not be the last. There is no respect for the voters nor the people's money via the Government purse whose budget is repeatedly overshot by millions of dollars and no real accounting of why. There is total fiscal mismanagement in this PLP regime. This money could be spent on bettering the community via numerous other facilities and helping existing ones that are struggling.

The problem lies with us; voters continue to elect people they see are doing an awful job and would rather blame the system. Whether we have this system ... a US republic style/ Canadian style/a SA style ... etc. it doesn't matter. It all lies upon the people in power to do the job right. For every type of system that exists there will be abusers. Our system is full of abusers and careless Bermudians who don't seem to do anything but complain rather than make a change. If the system was to change, then the same deceivers in this system would exploit the next. We need a change in Bermudian attitude and those who are in power. I call for more youth to take the lead and say enough is enough. With regard to my posted quote at the outset of this letter I say we are in an intolerable government, but so long as the greater mass allows it to be tolerated then this is what we are stuck with. People have lost sight of that the power that we the people possess. The true power is within us, not people on the hill. We are a parliamentary democracy, but we have allowed it to become a parliamentary oligarchy and more recently a tyranny where one man seems to call the shots over his own party.

ROBERT DAVIES