We are all to blame

August 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

I am so sickened by reading the continuous reports on gang violence and now with the latest fatal killing of Kellon Hill, my heart just feels ripped to bits and I didn't even know this boy personally but I still feel like crying my eyes out. Now we will just get the normal chat on what should be done and how we can start to curb the growing gang related crimes in Bermuda, and how long will that talk last and will there really be any positive action from this.

The kids of today think they can do anything, take anything, and be as abusive and violent as they want and they are in no way intimidated or scared of the consequences. Why is that? Because there are no heavy consequences.

To the parents of every thug on this Island: What has gone wrong? Where in your teachings to your child did you allow them to think that violence and crime and gangs are the best way to go? Is it because you never bothered with them and never taught them anything that they are like this? Is it because you yourself are threatened by them and scared to discipline them and can't handle your own children?

If that's the case, then why haven't you asked for help in dealing with your child? Why haven't you asked Social Services or the Police or another senior member of your family or friends to help educate and discipline your child? Or are you in the same mindset as your thug child? If your child has committed a violent crime, you should be prosecuted as well, for failing to do what you promised to do the day you had your child, to ensure that they live their lives the best way possible and to never intentionally hurt another human being.

To the thugs – one day your time will come, all the evil you are doing will return to you tenfold, and your punishment will be given. I hope and pray that you see the light before that dreadful day happens. You are ill, you need help and if you don't think you do then you should just be disposed off, you are not good for this world and have no right to live in it.

To the Government – if you cannot deal with this problem, if you are not experienced enough to help abolish this gang crime then spend money and bring people in that can. Start curfews, start taking responsibility for the future of Bermuda – these kids are the future. They will be living in this country long after you and I have gone. We need to start the rehabilitation now. No more treating these kids with kid gloves. They are not acting like children. They are acting like animals.

Parents, stop spoiling your children with the best clothes, the latest phones, the best technology until they really start appreciating life and what it takes to get somewhere.

We are so serious on concentrating one how our kids look and how others see us but we are losing sight on what's going on inside. Enough is enough. We are to blame for this. The parents, because we either ignore it or are to afraid to ask for help. The government are to blame because they are not doing enough, fast enough to help rehabilitate these kids. We are all to blame for the death of Kellon Hill and we should all bury our heads in shame.

DONNA

Pembroke

Parents, take a stand

August 11, 2008

Dear Sir,

I certainly hope that the public doesn't use this as another opportunity to bash the youth and their onslaught of violence. The writing is on the wall; parents have got to take responsibility for the problems they have created throughout the community.

My heart goes out to Mr. Hill's family and I pray that God brings them peace through this all.

We all need to realise what is festering in the community today and parents must take a stand. Our youth are demanding responsibility and independence, but how far is too far? Allowing them to be corrupted by television, music and media; adorning them in the latest fashion; lacing their pockets with money that they don't need; letting them go and come as they please; these are all factors that aid in the attitude of our youth today.

Then parents themselves are so busy keeping up with the Smiths next door, and into everybody else's business that they don't even see the gaping hole in their own backyard.

Or they are so busy involving themselves in the same illicit activities that their children can't even respect their views on life, so what do they expect.

My heart goes out to the mother of those individuals responsible for this heinous act as well, but I hope they are so busy pacifying and defending their child to realise that they need help too.

And where is the church in all this? Saints wake up! Stop playing church and worrying about who has the best or worst Sunday suit. Stop shaking it fast in the club one night and then shouting hallelujah the morning after. Stop judging and start praying. Stop preaching a message of prosperity and condemnation and start preaching a message of salvation. Would someone please proclaim the true Gospel of Jesus Christ so that our Island and its youth can be saved? God help my island home!

T. WALKER

Florida

Parenting, parenting...

August 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

An 18-year-old with a gold chain? A 15-year-old young girl, hosting a party at Elbow Beach at 11.30 p. m.? Does this not say it all? A gold chain provokes jealousy and envy without it this young man,{ not a little boy }would be alive today. A young girl in bed by 11.30 p.m. would not be involved in this tragedy.

Parenting? What parenting? It is about time the parents of their offspring took responsibility for them and to us in the community. If we do not get to grips with this issue, all the money spent in advertising peaceful lovely Bermuda will go down the drain and when it goes down that famous drain we will never get it back. So I say Parenting, Parenting, Parenting must be brought to task ... and none too soon.

DIANA WILLIAMS

Pembroke

Make parents accountable

August 13, 2008

Dear Sir,

First, I would like to express my sincere and deepest condolences to the Hill family for the loss of their son, and to all the other families that have lost a loved one to the violence that has descended upon our country. Many have asked the question: "What is the Government going to do to stop the violence?"

People, we need to stop asking the Government to solve problems that our families need to be addressing. We cannot expect Government to raise our children, we as families have to take responsibility for our children's actions. No longer should we accept the violent behaviour that our young people seem to be so determined to demonstrate.

The Government can assist us by amending the Child Protection Act, which many parents seem to think means that they cannot address their child's bad behaviour which results in the child thinking their bad behaviour is acceptable. I am a firm believer in having parents held accountable for their children's actions. Each case that is presented should be evaluated on its individual merit.

I feel for the young people in our country! I worry about my own young family members as they socialise in environments that would ordinarily be considered safe. They are now going to be subjected to parental scrutiny of every event that they will want to attend. Families we need to be involved in every aspect of our young peoples' lives. We cannot expect the Government to perform our roles.

QUINITA FRANCIS

St. George's

Disgraceful coverage

August 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

Perhaps I'm confused, I thought we lived in a democracy, I thought we had freedom of choice. Obviously not when it comes to the Olympics – Bermuda Broadcasting and that's it. We pay $73 per month to Cablevision for 100 plus channels and half a dozen or so are blocked for the next three weeks so that we in Bermuda can only watch the CBS coverage of the Olympics at night and the amateurish Caribbean coverage in the mornings. What a disgrace.

VIEWER

Devonshire

It's unfortunate

August 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

I am writing to plea with you to use your power to force the Bermuda Broadcasting Company, the Ministry of Telecommunications (or whoever else is responsible) to explain how they can justify blacking out nearly 3,000 hours of Olympic coverage in order to show a measly five (or so) hours of coverage per day.

I am sure you are aware of this but most of us pay dearly to Cablevision and expect to get what we pay for. This includes extensive coverage on NBC, USA, CNBC, MSNBC and CBC.

I watched some of the events last night on Channel 9 (CBS by the way?) and could barely make out the picture (On another point … I am not sure what will happen in Bermuda when the FCC orders all stations to turn off analog feeds and broadcast everything in HD on Feb 19, 2009.).

In addition, there was not even one advertisement for the local sponsors. Instead, a voice-over appeared over a simple graphic, mentioning the lead sponsors. This could have been done on all of the blacked out networks just as easily and I am sure the sponsors would have been even happier. If I were the Bank or C&W, I would be appalled with what my money is getting…

On the flip side, I watched coverage on MSNBC while in Maine this weekend and saw many of the events that featured Bermudian athletes. None of these have hit the Bermuda airwaves. Being able to flip from channel to channel was (albeit excessive) a great way to create a viewing experience for everyone to enjoy. This is what I expect when I pay Cablevision over $100 per month.

When a friend called the station today to enquire about this they merely said they had a contract to do so. I am hoping that you will be able to uncover the injustice that we are now viewing.

The Olympics come around every two years and it is a chance for the world to come together via athletics. It is just unfortunate that those of us on the rock are being forced to do this via the archaic medium that is the Bermuda Broadcasting Company… Please, for the fans of the games, find out what can be done to make sure this does not occur again in 2010 (Vancouver). I hope you are able to do a story that can explain all of this to all of the fans struggling to accept this in Bermuda.

JONH

City of Hamilton

P.s. I want to pass along my compliments to Adrian for his work covering the BDA team. Keep up the good work in Beijing.

Protesting idiocy

August 12, 2008

Dear Sir,

I consider myself lucky to have spent the first weekend of the Summer Olympics in the US where I could watch complete coverage with a fantastic picture on NBC, USA and TNT. I arrived home to find the archaic presentation of ZBM with their Second World War castoff equipment and their even more archaic local ads.

Two things:

Please, Kenny Defontes, please buy the rights (if you haven't already) for 2012.

I'll pay extra but just please get this away from those idiots up at Prospect. I'm not sure what your arrangement is with NBC but I beg you to just broadcast what they have on offer. Alternatively, and as a shareholder in Cablevision, please, please, consider buying the rights and at least offering a package to your Cablevision subscribers.

Secondly, if Lindos, Rayclan and all those other advertisers thought they were doing a good thing ... think again. You signed on with the world's worst TV station. ZBM hasn't bought any new equipment and doesn't seem to do anything different then when they aired Crunch and Des and Lassie in the 1950s. I am going to boycott all those advertisers as much as I can to protest this idiocy.

It's 2008 and Bermuda is a sophisticated country. The Summer Olympics generally, much less these Beijing Olympics, are a special treat offered only once every four years and we should be able to watch complete coverage with a decent signal. And my last suggestion (and maybe the best one) is that with all that money going into Government TV ... why can't you buy the rights and televise it as a public service. That's a decent way to get at least some of us to watch your station...

AUNT POLLY SAWYER

Southampton