Introducing.... The Alliance!

“One man may hit the mark, another blunder; but heed not these distinctions. Only from the alliance of the one, working with and through the other, are great things born.” -

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Alliance: a merging of efforts or interests by persons, families, states, or organizations: an alliance between church and state. (dictionary.com)

I don't profess to be a genius here, but the BDA (Bermuda Democratic Alliance) are who exactly? Disgruntled former members of the UBP? Allied with whom? Are we awaiting defections from across the floor to complete this historic group?

Ok... it's early days yet. The third option has emerged and before HMS United Bermuda Party is well and truly left to the fishes, we must say this. The third option at this point seems to be truly only a rehashed version of the second option, if said second option is the opposition. I'm not sure if said opposition would be the first option, I would hope not, but if you define power in terms of rankings, then the first option would definitely be the government... wouldn't it?

Never mind. This "Alliance"... don't we just love vague labels for political parties? ... what exactly is it? A Democratic Alliance - thank god it's a democratic alliance and not a communist or worse a socialist alliance, for we can't have radicals running around now can we? - made up of former UBP MP's that have left the UBP. Hey... wait a minute here.... if I voted party lines and one of these MP's is my MP and I voted for them under the UBP flag, does that mean I have to change political parties too? My head hurts.

I know...I know... it's early days yet. We may have influential government members jumping on board the Alliance bandwagon. Mr. Perinchief? Mr. Horton? Mr. James? I know... Mr. Butler.... wow... I'm not convinced. Maybe the Alliance can pick up Ashfield Devent... if they put legalization on their platform. Ok... maybe the Alliance will be made up of the former UBP MP's and a few independent thinkers, whoa!!! Not Independence thinkers... INDEPENDENT thinkers! We'll have none of that Independence stuff around here.

Oh and that platform thing. Yeah, it's early days yet, but these former UBP mp's need to get a platform thing. Separate themselves from the UBP, you know be different, be a true third option... or second option... or first option... or no option if you don't think that they are an alliance at all... like me... just a few disgruntled former UBP MP's trying to be an option. Dad always said... if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, then it's more than likely... A DUCK!!!

Good luck... I'll take Captain America as my MP.

Why I blog...

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community... Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own." - Cesar Chavez

I decided several months ago to "out" myself. Ok... I'm not "out" in that way. I'm out by exposing myself on my blog. It is a decision I'm proud of. Putting my picture on my blog was a personal choice. Live by the sword (or pen...computer) die by it. In local circles, it's not a popular thing to do. Most forums/blogs are represented by nicknames (mine is "sparxx" for which I have had for many years) and users apply avatars that somehow represent the user in one way or another. I understand why people do this, it detaches accountability to a face and makes freedom of speech more "free". You can say what you like and no one has to know who it is behind the scenes.

My decision came for a few reasons. I have always accepted responsibility for who I am, what I say and what I do. Yet in the online world there seems to be less accountability and people can seemingly do what they want, and say what they want and get away with it. Again, I understand a users right to personal privacy, but if you are gutsy enough to criticize someone or something, have the guts to show your face. There are strong and radical voices in cyberspace, and it is important to accept a responsible approach in all aspects of life... even our online ones. I preach to my kids about standing up for what they believe in and fighting the good fight, for their honour and for those who can't fight for themselves.

Dictionary.com defines commitment as "a pledge or a promise, an obligation". It also defines the word citizen as "a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is entitled to its protection." It is my honest belief that as citizens we must always work to ensure that we do our parts in our communities to make all of our lives a little bit better. It's a commitment, and one I take seriously. I take it seriously for me, and my family. I choose to do so because I accept that there is work to be done. As with many others, I do so freely and with the hope that our future generations will do the same. There is no glory in it, there is no requirement for acknowledgement, and while some may see this as "tooting" my own horn, that's their opinion and they are entitled to it!

I choose to blog for several reasons, foremost it's a place where I can log my thoughts and keep my writing going. I have tried writing stories, and poetry and games, but for whatever reason never found a niche with any of them. This blog allows me a little more literary freedom and it provides the outlet I need, whenever I need it. Other reasons are for discipline and for exploration into my world as I see it. I titled this blog "distorted visions" simply because I know that for the most part my visions are mine alone. That's fine, and I don't purposely seek to irritate or aggravate. If that happens... so be it.

I have to accept that there are things, people who will not change. I have to accept that in our island paradise there will always be people who are just not happy. People who probably do a hell of a lot more in their communities than me and like me expect nothing in return. Bermudians are great people when they work together, and they are great more often than not, but they can be royal pains in the butt when they have reasons to be. I guess that's the way it is in most places, but in such a small society such as our own, and in ways where we can continue to be great, we continue to find reasons to fail.