Understand God's Law

April 27, 2007

Dear Sir,

We all have the right to freedom of speech, therefore I would like the opportunity to say that I'm not calling gays and lesbians monsters. I'm just saying "Times may change, but morals and principles stay the same." I can't for the life of me understand how some feel that the more time goes on we can make right wrong, bad good and dysfunctional normal, but let me tell you, truth is truth. It may be offensive but it is not a sin. Nor is it a matter of condemning or judging. It is God's Law. For those that need to know which God (The God of Isaac, Abraham & Jacob) God's Law stays the same forever IT SHALL NEVER CHANGE. Yes, Jesus accepted even the prostitute only to have her change her ways to the understanding of God's Law.

To Real View, I won't die if some tourist don't return to the island. I have never sold my soul for the almighty dollar. For others that don't know we can also find the vortex of selfishness over the entire world which is ruled by Satan.

I am 47 years of age and no I don't belong to any religious group. I refuse to accept modern day ideology saying to me it's a new time so we should accept anything and everything, when the TRUTH is, since the beginning of time God's Law has been in existence. It wasn't changed for Adam and Eve nor will it be changed for Adam and Steve.

Remember KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT APPLICATION equals NOTHING

The church has an obligation to tell everyone the news of God's law. Being selective about God's Law has to change.

ISLANDGAL

What would Jesus say?

April 26, 2007

Dear Sir,

Please allow me to say three things in regards to the stand taken by Bermuda's churches in regards to gay cruises visiting your shores.

1) I am amused when the followers of Jesus Christ do things like this in His name. I am reminded of Matthew 7:20-23. In this case I would paraphrase my NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE verse 22 in particular: "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles, and in Your name protest a gay cruise?' Read verse 23 for yourself to find out what Jesus says to these of His followers.

2) I would like to quote former South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Nigeria's anti-gay laws. "To penalise somebody for their sexual orientation is the same as what used to happen to black South Africans."

3) My name is Tom Cullen. I am a gay American. I lived and worked in Bermuda from 1985 to 2001. I last visited Bermuda for four days in October of last year. I have many dear Bermudian friends. I think Bermuda is one of the most special places on Earth, but I will think long and hard about spending any more of my tourist dollars on your shores.

THOMAS J. CULLEN

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dr. Brown's disdain

May 15, 2007

Dear Sir,

This PLP Government, which was initially conceived on the basis of equality and fairness for all, seems bent on marginalising a segment of the community that it purports to represent and protect. Ewart Brown admitted that despite his previous statement to the contrary, the truth is that the patients who use the facilities at the Hospital Clinic were never consulted about closing it. He also stated that the public are misinformed. The question must be posed, "whose fault is that?"

How dare he imply that 'the public' is at fault because they are misinformed. If all the decisions regarding the Clinic (and apparently most decisions made by this Government) are made behind closed doors — with no plan, no list of doctors who are willing to treat these patients, no confirmation as to who will provide transportation — or at least, no details revealed to the voting public, how is the public able to be anything other than uninformed or misinformed?

He subsequently stated that one of the reasons for closing the clinic is the cost of salaries for the supporting staff, which he said is approaching $500,000 per annum. How is it that this Government can 'donate' over $26,000,000 (twenty six million dollars) to cricket and football — not even including $200,000 to Somerset Bridge Recreation Club which is in significant arrears of tax payment — but is not willing to provide healthcare for those in need?

Why is it that this Government, which can afford massive pay increases for itself, large cars and expense account that are not accounted for, has the audacity to expect doctors to treat patients for free (as suggested by Dr. McPhee in his Letter to the Editor, a version of which was re-printed as a full page advert in The Royal Gazette, no doubt financed by the PLP Government) and volunteers to provide free transportation to these patients.

Where is the outrage that Ewart Brown's personal entourage costs in the region of $450,000, but this Government cannot find the funds to support the Clinic?

Where are the financial projections to support Ewart Brown's assertion that it will be more cost effective for Bermuda, as a whole, to close this clinic? Have the social, medical and psychological implications been factored into this calculation?

Why is it that this Government withdrew funding from the Salvation Army, which is now struggling, due to lack of funding, to provide care for the homeless and treatment for drug addicts? Where are the corresponding successful government programs?

As this Government continues to discard this segment of Bermuda, Bermuda is falling into a trap whereby this Government is creating a disenfranchised sub-culture. A sub-culture with nothing to lose.

Although Ewart Brown is the primary proponent of the closure of the clinic it appears he does not have the courage to address his critics in person. It is disgraceful that Ewart Brown demonstrated total disdain for the opinions of the protesters to the closure of the clinic by not even having the courtesy to accept their petition. Perhaps they are too insignificant. (He quickly backed down when confronted by disgruntled public transport union members.) Rather than confront them himself he dispatched his emissary, the Acting Health Minister, to receive the petition at which time Mr. Perinchief suggested that the petition would be taken into consideration; a statement which was hastily refuted by one of Ewart Brown's spokesmen.

And now, to further add insult to injury, we now learn that Ewart Brown has been granted expedited planning approval to convert Winterhaven from an historical residential building into a private clinic. No wonder he withdrew the plans for rebuilding the existing hospital on the Botanical Gardens.

It would appear that he was not responding to the outcry from the community about the desecration of this beloved public sanctuary, but merely making sure there would be less competition. Now, at least we know where the Clinic patients will be going. I am sure Ewart Brown will welcome them all with open arms and help them restore their dignity by providing state-of-the art medical care paid for by the Bermuda Government.

VOTER

Hamilton Parish

Name the schools

May 8, 2007

Dear Sir,

The recent disclosure of the of the failing education system didn't go far enough. This Government needs to be reminded where it receives its revenue from. The taxpayers, thousands of whom have children in the public education system, have every right to know which schools received a failing grade and which received a passing grade. Anything less than a full disclosure to us, the taxpaying public, deprives us of critical information we need about the choices we have in education.

You can be sure that the occupants of 105 Front Street know which schools were failing and which were good or satisfactory. We pay for the schools. We paid for the review by Professor Hopkins and we paid for the report. Name the schools and give the public the information we deserve.

REPORT CARD

Paget