Bullying tactics

April 1, 2007

Dear Sir,

As a frequent visitor to Bermuda for many years, I feel compelled to respond to the article written by Amanda Dale with regards to a gay cruise docking in Bermuda in July.

Mr. Kaminisky “urges” the Churches of Bermuda to consider their values and I’m sure that they are, however, this is for Bermuda to decide not Mr. Kaminisky.

Bermuda is beautiful and so are the people who live and work there.

Why is it that the United States of America resorts to bullying and to threat tactics in their so called negotiations?

Quote from Kaminisky: “If we don’t come to Bermuda I will tell you that everyone in America will know why. “Any incident, even one picketer, would be enough.”

Bully, bully, bully.

Kaminisky, you and your tour group just lost your credibility.

S.L.

Canada

Human rights test case

April 1, 2007

Dear Sir,

I wish to add my voice to those who have expressed that they are not against the arrival in Bermuda of tourists who happen to be gay, lesbian or bisexual. For that matter, I’m not against the presence of anyone at all whose behaviour respects our country’s laws. (It’s not illegal to be gay, I should add.)

The current objection of some (but not all) churches over the arrival of Rosie O’Donnell’s cruise ship serves as an excellent example of

the obvious need for protection from sexual orientation discrimination in Bermuda’s Human Rights Act, alongside race, sex (ie gender), marital status, disability, birth out of wedlock, religion and criminal record.

The Human Rights Act specifically describes, among other things, an individual’s right to the use of public services. Yet here we have a situation where, in the berthing of a single ship, an attempt is being made to deny more than 2,000 individuals that right and freedom. And why? Because some of them are not heterosexually oriented.

Has our Government ever had a more substantial and more widely publicised test case of sexual orientation discrimination than this one?

PETER CARPENTER

Pembroke>

Look at the Word

April 1, 2007

Dear Sir,

I would like space in your column to address some Churches of Bermuda.

First let me say that I am a Christian and don’t mean this letter as an attack on “the church”. I want to address the issue of how the church appears to attack certain sins — seemingly holding one above another.

Jesus ate with the unrighteous. He came to heal the sick. He came to give the sinner — “all of us” — hope of a better life one day, an everlasting life.

Why are we attacking others, when we should be loving them and gently rebuking them? If you attack someone, the natural response is to attack back without listening. If you push someone the natural response is to push back. Why is it that many of us aggressively attack certain sins as if one is worse then another, while others are dealt with gently or not at all? How are we to reach people if we continue to push them away? We need to go back to the Bible and see how Christ dealt with the unrighteous.

You can’t just throw a seed on soil and expect it to grow strong. Nor can you put a seed in little soil. You need to take that seed to good soil, dig a hole, not too deep, just enough so it can hold strong. Our work isn’t finished then. We’ll need to feed it and show it kindness, gentleness, and love so that it can grow strong. That is how we need to treat others.

Just throwing scripture at another won’t make them understand. We need to show them, love them, and invite them to join a service or two. Plant that seed, sit them down, and gently show them how much God loves them.

What would have happened if when Peter began to sink when walking on the water Christ attacked him for his lapse in Faith? The woman who touched Jesus hem of his garment, what if he shouted at her for putting her unclean fingers on him? Can you imagine how many would not have turned to Christ if he aggressively attacked them? Look at the woman at the well Christ didn’t tell her get away. He spoke to her and even told her who she was and that she can have a drink where she would never again thirst.

We need to go back to the Bible and emulate how Christ handled the unrighteous. We want them to feel Christ’s love and to plant a seed in them. Attacking their character won’t do it. How can you help the unrighteous come to know Christ? You can’t do it by turning people away. Invite them to sit in service, plant that seed . . . infect them. Let them feel that Love they are searching for in all the wrong places.

Some suggestions:

• Go back to the Lord’s Word and see what He did
• Talk to a Christian who was formerly gay. Ask them for ideas of approach. I am sure that a former gay Christian can enlighten us with a better approach toward the gay lifestyle, having struggled with the sin themselves.
• We need to realise that there is a person behind that sin that needs God’s love — even if they just don’t see it right now

JUDITH

Pembroke

Playing into her hands

April 1, 2007

Dear Sir,

It strikes me that if a demonstration is put on for the arrival of Rosie O’Donnell’s cruise ship it will play right into her hands, for publicity is her meat and drink. She set up the cruise with publicity and I’m sure she hopes that some sort of demill take place. It would be good for Miss O’Donnell.

WILLIAM ZUILL SR.

Smith’s Parish

Despicable attitude

March 31, 2007

Dear Sir,

I have vacationed in Bermuda for the past 17 years. I am from the States. I am not a lesbian!

I think it’s despicable that the churches of Bermuda may oppose Rosie O’Donnell’s gay cruise to Bermuda! It’s time to “get over it”! Rosie O’Donnell was the very first person to donate money to the victims of 9/11 — where were all the famous “Hollywood People” with their donations? (including you, Donald Trump) and (what about you Mr. and Mrs. Michael Douglas)? In my opinion, Rosie O’Donnell is probably “the most loving, compassionate, caring” person in the world! Lesbian and gay people don’t choose that lifestyle —- it’s the way “God” made them !

It’s time for Bermuda to “get over it” — Bermuda needs to worry about its many other severe problems which will keep tourists from visiting (crime and road deaths) !

ANN SALLEE

Cape Cod, Massachusetts