Random Thoughts...

“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world." - Buddha

The Lane School zoning tribunal convenes this Friday. There is no doubt that this should be a black history museum. The location is the Salvation Army Citadel on North St. at 1:45 p.m. Come out and help support the cause.

Halloween is Saturday. Keep it real people and keep it safe. This is a kids day, and we should all remember that. There is always reason to be cautious, let's hope the knuckleheads don't lose their minds. The dangers are many, so please take all the proper precautions.

Hurricane season is almost over. It's been unusually quiet the past couple of years, wonder if it's got anything to do with the global planet changes. It's time to pay attention people. Our world is going to hell in a hand-basket temperature wise. Recycle, re-use and remember to re-fill those ink and toner cartridges (shameless plug).

Lot's of talk on several boards about homosexuality. I'm not going to go overboard on this, so I'll just say that HUMAN RIGHTS should always be our number one fight. I'm not going to debate people on the issues of morality, but please remember, without human rights we have no debate. Freedom is a gift best used wisely. Live, love and learn!

A follow up on my post regarding Softball. Our ladies have travelled to the Bahamas, and it was a pleasure to see them off. I wish them all the luck. I told them Sunday morning that to have come this far is a victory in itself and that they should all be proud of their accomplishment. Win or lose they will do us proud I'm sure. As for the suspended pair, they have travelled with the team, but probably will be relegated to spectator level. The Bermuda Amateur Softball Association will always strive to do the right thing, and as such we will hold a SGM (special general meeting) on Nov. 17th. All those interested should please come out and get involved. We have exciting plans for the upcoming year (2010) and we need all the help we can get!

CURB held their AGM recently. Kudos to all those elected, including our amazing president Lynne Winfield who is now in Tanzania doing the Diaspora thing. Next year it's back in Bermuda and we should get it back on the front burner. Special mention goes to Dr. Eva Hodgson who has been given an honorary lifetime membership to our Central Council. Her wisdom and expertise in fighting racism in Bermuda is legendary, and while many people may not be able to find her candor appetizing, it has long been a staple for us and we are so proud to share in her brilliance!

Finally, my daughter turned 15 this weekend. I can't begin to tell you how amazing she is, or for that matter how old I feel. She is turning into quite a lady and as she presses on with her GCSE examinations this year, I know that she will do her best! I was also really happy to have her help me out with the Youth Softball Development League on Saturday. It's nice that a dad can share a sport with his kids (boys and girls) and as my kids have spent so much time with me at the Mike Preece Stadium (Bernard's Park) I look forward to spending a lot more time with them there! Happy Birthday Rachel... I love you!!!

The power of people....

If you fail to understand what people can do, even one person can inspire masses...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxkMwFFsCko

Bermuda Softball - Our National Spirit.

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.”

Softball in Bermuda has always been in our fabric. There has always been a connection with our culture and this very passionate game. It is as Bermudian a tradition as any of the other "big" sports, namely soccer and cricket, and it should still be spoken in that same reverence. It's not.

I have been involved in softball for easily the better part of 20 years, and I have stuck with it through the highs and lows, for which the local game is still trying to emerge from a murky decade of indifference. As Vice President of the Bermuda Amateur Softball Association, it has been a task trying to emerge from this period with a plan, and the support from the public hasn't always been there.

Slow pitch softball is the only competitive aspect of our game at the moment. Slow pitch leagues dominate and credit to their dedicated core, they have kept softball being played, even if it's not the "real" game we want. Slow pitch is a nice fun game, but there is no development, there are no progression charts. The top teams are who they always have been and there is very little to be gained from this game. Its fun and gives players a chance to play... but it's not our game.

Our game is fastpitch. It always has been, and always will be. We have a need for it and it is Bermuda Softball. For the past few months a ladies team has been very dedicated in trying to come together to compete in a tournament in the Bahamas, for which they leave in a weeks time. Under the coaching excellence of Braxton Stowe, the team is really taking shape and as we head into the final weekend of fundraising efforts we also look forward to the launch of our youth program this weekend. I can not begin to tell you how exciting this is. Focus on fastpitch, developing a plan, a strategy to carry us forward, and ultimately a long term goal of club softball being played around the island every night of the week! It is a solid plan and if we can make it happen, softball will return to it's rightful place on Bermuda's sporting mantle piece.

This weekend, B.A.S.A. will hold car washes at BAA and at Somersfield this morning and a bake sale at the stadium this afternoon. A reminder that all youth ages 15+ that are interested in playing are asked to please come out to the Mike Preece Stadium (Bernard's park) beginning at 4:30 p.m. for registration and introductions.

One last note. Some people may have paid attention to media reports this week about a player that was dropped and "re-instated" from the ladies team. She has, provided her "side" of the story, and early next week the Association will reply through those same media channels. I will not go into great detail, but I will say this. In meetings last night, for which she and another player opted out, a TEAM decision was made, and the decision was unanimous. Stay tuned for further updates!!!

You gotta have faith....

“Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” - Rabindranath Tagore

At some point I know that certain things are proven to be true. People are born, and people will die. Life here on our spinning blue ball continues to evolve and as we progress, it is in faith that we believe things will happen. Still our faith is challenged when things don't happen the way they are supposed to. How many of us become irritated when a light doesn't go on when we flick a switch? How many of us expect our cars to start every day? How many would be surprised if we walked into a grocery store to find that they didn't have any food? Our world is built on faith that things happen when we expect them to. Most of these things are easily explained.

We know that (or we hope that) if we pay our electricity bill, the electric company will continue to supply us with service, and when we come home at night and turn on a light, it should come on. Certainly bulbs will blow, fuses or breakers will blow or trip, but for the most part we have faith in the system. Just as we expect the grocery store to provide the food we want when we are hungry. In this instance we do not say that we have blind faith, we have proven faith.

We can have faith in our governments to do the best thing for us, but that faith is continually challenged when they do boneheaded things. To err is human... Still, most of us believe in the power of love, and to that end we have hope for the future. A lot of things reinforce that faith, that love, that hope for the future. Friendship, family, security and the basic idea that man is inherently good and that we truly care for everyone and everything around us. Faith is the key to human existence. Unfortunately this is where things become... muddled.

We have faith, faith in people, places and things, all things that we can prove exist, but when we all of a sudden have faith in things that can't be proven to exist, I begin to worry a bit about our future. I guess the point here is what I'll call the "GOD PROBLEM". For as long as can be known, people have had this ... problem. The problem is, that unlike the "electricity" problem, that can be resolved by paying the bill, changing the bulb or fuse, flipping the breaker, the God thing isn't so easily fixed. It isn't easily proven. The bible tells us that there are certain things we can do to ensure a place in heaven, but that heaven place, did someone get an address or phone number? I know DisneyWorld exists, and it may be the coolest place on earth, because I've been there ... a few times. I know outer space exists, because I can see the stars in the sky and I can see the facts laid before me by people who have been there. It's like Antarctica... I've never been there, but I have reasonable faith that it exists, because if I look hard enough I'll find someone who has been there.

The God/Heaven thing hasn't been proven yet people are willing to die for their faith. I'm just not getting it. I've been an altar boy, joined Young Life, studied with Christians, Mormons, Jehovas... and their story is all the same. An undisputed belief in a god or heaven that can not be verified. It's a feel good thing. People need to feel good and they need to believe that there is something good after you die. We know that every year after Christmas, there are post-christmas sales, but I have never met anyone that's had a post-life experience. We have to be careful. I understand the NEED to have FAITH, I'd just like it to be verifiable. I'm just not sworn to it. Give me something... anything. Give me a plug, a bulb, a power cord, an electric company, something tangible, something verifiable.

In the end, I guess it's a double edged sword. I believe in Christmas, Easter, if not for the social aspects of these holidays, so is it wrong for me to deny the existence of the one who makes those days important? Believe me, I want those holidays, so I know that it should be something important to me. Unfortunately it's not. If I lived in a society that told me I had to work those days, I'm sure it would mean even less to me. The one thing I will continue to have faith in, is man. One way or another I have faith that I will be surprised, shocked, amazed and horrified by what he can do. I only hope that faith is not the only thing carrying me through it all.

Becoming a lean green machine....

Did you know, the Hershey Company in the US produces about 20,000,000 kisses each day using 133 square miles of aluminum to wrap them in; this material is recyclable and most of it ends up in the trash rather than the recycle bin. - http://www.environment-green.com/More_Recycling_Facts_and_Statistics.html

It's a serious thing this recycling business. Certainly it is a business, the pros of running a "green" business definitely outweigh the cons. The statistics are staggering. Even here in our small island home, people think "green" as a way of life. Most of our fine citizens find ways to recycle, save energy and plant trees. We are known for our cleanliness. Tourists love that our streets are not consumed by litter and our oceans are not suffering the effects of pollution as most other countries in the west.

It's a part of our social conscience isn't it? In all that we do, we are challenged to live a better life, create a better world, saving the planet ultimately saves lives and who wouldn't want that? So keep separating your plastics, glass and metals!!! Hey if you didn't notice, our Government is offering the good people up to $5000 if you install solar panels in your home! Will that inspire people? Eh.....

So many things to consider in recognizing our "footprint", things we take for granted like that little Hershey's Kiss deal up there. Are you going to stop using your gas guzzling automobiles? Does car-pooling even happen in Bermuda? I don't think so. It's a nice thought, but it's an effort that takes mass coordination. We don't have the time to be worried about how others are doing, so we just keep stuffing those blue bags, keep taking our green bags to the grocers, and turn off the lights every once in a while. Oh and Belco will still give out prizes for those who do a decent job with their Christmas lights.

I wonder. Would you drive an electric bike? Would you recycle that paper in the office? Would you buy a bottle of wine that has a screw cap instead of a cork? Would you car-pool, or better yet walk to work? No... it's still too hot outside. Are we conscientiously making an effort to save our world, or are we just keeping the kids happy so when they go to school they can say "We recycle at home!!!" So keep stuffing those blue bags... we'll be green some day.

If we look at our lives, we must consider that even in doing what we do, it may not be enough. GreenRock reports that with each kilowatt hour of electricity we use, 751 grams of CO2 are pumped into the atmosphere. (here). There is hope fans... several businesses have begun to do their part. I'm not really into self promotion, but hey it's my dime, so you get what you pay for... Skinks Ink (located in Sound Stage in the Washington Mall) is refilling ink-jet cartridges, and Lanier Business products, who I am working with, are remanufacturing laser toner cartridges. Bermudian businesses doing the right thing. An off-shoot of the Lanier Business is the lithium battery electric bike EVT that uses no gas. It's conscious efforts like these that will continue to make a difference. So the next time you snap off a blue bag, have a look at the blue sky outside and wonder if it really is too hot to walk to work, or even better call someone and offer to pick them up!!!

Who Are We???

“Culture of the mind must be subservient to the heart" - Ghandi

I see her royal majesty is planning a special trip here to help celebrate our 400th birthday. A real nice treat to end what has been a pretty fantastic year. Originally she wasn't coming, now she is. I wonder what changed her mind? Maybe a plea from our premier? Maybe a chance to come and put her royal stamp on us, to show that she really cares. Yup, should be fun. Let's practice those bows and curtsies boys and girls... lest we forget who we truly are. Our safety and security in the hands of ye olde british empire, making sure that the bad guys of the world don't invade us for our wonderfully pink sand. It's a lingering question. Just exactly who are we? What makes us special in the world, how are we different from those who would seem most similar?

Take a minute and look around. Aside from the slew of "Bermujan Verds", what is our culture? What distinct qualities make us different? Bermuda Shorts? Codfish and potatoes? Are these things truly unique to us? We have a history developed over 400 years of good, bad and indifferent. If we compare ourselves with those countries we most closely associate with are we more American than British? If so what about those who connect with the Caribbean? Why do we connect with some places, but not all? With a heavy latin presence there, why do we seem to connect with those former British colonies, and not with the Spanish places?? We had a Spanish presence once... what happened to us?

So, after 400 years, we are still defined by a queen, a crown... and it's only taken her 40 years to come back (ok... close to 40 years). What is the problem with that? If we are one of the last remaining Overseas Territories (1 of 14), you might think we're a bit more deserving. We're special... aren't we? Now we could look at the importance of us in a bigger picture, we don't hold world war or cold war summits anymore, and in reality we're not the most popular beach in the world, and for the past 30 years we've been open to international businesses hiding their books on our lovely shores. Talk of independence has come and gone, referendums, threats of anarchy and political change has seen our evolution change quite a bit since her majesty last graced our shores.

So we struggle. I note that some are wondering whether our Premier will have the decency to hang around for her visit. I guess the bigger question is.... why should he? Has she been involved in our lives the past 40 years (ok... close to 40 years)? Has she even sent us a birthday card? If anything can be taken from this impromptu visit, it's that we should be ready to kiss the royal backside once again, because all attitudes being equal, we really do need her in our world.

Let's hope the monarchy won't be burdened as such for birthday 401. We'd hate to keep her from whatever it is she does anyway.

“When you have completed 95 percent of your journey, you are only halfway there.” Japanese Proverb There comes a point in one's development where he simply must recognize that going in the same direction leads him nowhere and that he must seek a new path. The road walked last week was a long and tedious one. One I have seen more than enough of, and one that will, for the moment, remain closed. That road is endless and goes nowhere. There are certain issues that make little sense to me and this is one. How do we get to a happy middle ground? How do we achieve peace of mind? Must we fight endless battles that accomplish nothing? How many times must we re-hash the same ideas, the same thought patterns only to end up in a name-calling, degradation of humanity? We must always seek the strong, the positive, the path less walked. It is in the darkest of hours that we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move on. So I am... moving on. I note this week that several pertinent subjects have appeared on the blogsphere. The cannabis question is an important one. There comes a larger question, one that exceeds our shores. When do we say when? If we allow cannabis, what happens when someone wants to legalize all kinds of hallucinogens? Are we not struggling with being under the influence a little too much? A society that accepts being dazed and confused as natural accepts that once that bridge has been crossed, there will be many others to deal with. In a non-smoking world, why would we want to say it's ok to smoke... anything? A question... on the bad level, which is worse, drugs or gambling? Just wondering. The few places in our world where drugs are legal, stand out, but not necessarily for all the right reasons. An open drug policy will allow more people to be arrested leaving Bermuda, as it seems highly unlikely that other countries are going to bend their laws any time soon. Be careful. If the end goal is to prevent people from going to jail, then we need to look at the problem from the wider perspective. If we are to frown upon drug use at this level, then we should probably frown on alcohol abuse as well. Last but not least is the apparent implosion of the United Bermuda Party. Who can honestly feel bad for them? Seriously, they have been pathetic, and now is the right time for them to bid the political world adieu. Don't wait for a new opposition to come up. Leave now, let the people have a better choice, even if there is none. Sometimes not choosing is a more definitive statement than making the wrong choice. Stay tuned.