LETTER TO THE EDITOR

The civil stability and inner peace is gone.  No one seems to want to stop this chain of events.

It is apparent that some ex-pats and Caymanians alike want to fuel the flames of this inferno slowly engulfing this island.  These actions do not aid this country in any way.  Yet no one seems to understand this.

Only a minute and often castigated few realizes what we are dealing with, the magnitude of problems which face us.

We face a seven headed beast with a sling shot and six rocks.  An arduous and testing battle lies before us.  Without unity there will be no victory.

Everyone has been splattered and lambasted with the propaganda and rhetoric of both of our disenfranchised sides.

How can anyone know what the truth is?  With all the arguing and complaining being ricocheted back and forth, the preservation and stability of the island is being forgotten.

The majority has apparently forgotten the meaning of compromise and balance.  We have to accept reality and move forward, instead of breeding dissent and disruption.

Fear and hate are being bred by the ruling majority of this island - Caymanian and ex-pat alike.  As with everything in this world today it is brought down to money.

Apparently, 'The Jones' of this island are afraid they may not be able to keep up anymore.  The oppressive regime that the status quo has built is sinking in the sand and the tide is rising.

A change is slowly happening.  Simply put, the people that love this island are starting to realize that something is not right.  They now see that the system is tainted beyond acceptance.

Of course this would shake up the ones that built and became wealthy off of this system.  People have gotten too used to pointing fingers and ignoring the facts of reality.

My friends, these Islands are only one hundred square miles, a pinprick on this earth.  We should be thankful for the wealth that has touched this Island, and not become greedy and throw it away.

Instead of being thankful so many want to complain and bicker.  Could it be that excess and greed have taken a hold of this country.  What a curse has befallen us.

The question bouncing around society is 'What is a Caymanian?'

Simply put it is those who deserve it, many who have it by birth do not even deserve it.  It is those who love these islands and consider it home.

They are the ones willing to put their own gain for the betterment of this home, this island.  That sentiment is gone.

Now everything has been replaced by Caymanian versus ex-pat or Caymanian versus Foreigner.  When in fact it is Caymanian versus Reality.  What happened to the caring and unity?  What happened to the togetherness and fortitude that was the catalyst for this island.

I beg all of you to stop the bickering and work towards the common goal of protecting and sustaining these islands.  I am pleading with all of you to face the truth, move on and try to shape a beautiful future.

We can keep this paradise.  But if we allow our greed and selfish ways to pollute our logic and foresight, we will lose it forever.  This; my friends, is the truth.  This is a fact.  With the fire rumbling within this nation, everything is turning to ash.  We must work as one to stop this.

Recently, I wrote a letter to the editor at Cayman Net News, entitled The Cayman Islands have to face reality, 28 August 2006.

Firstly late me state that I am the grandson of the late Mr. Jim Bodden, to answer Mr. John Bodden's question.  However, I am not him and am not trying to be him.  So I will not try to speak for him.

But this does not mean I will not defend myself when personally attacked.  In the above mentioned letter I did not point my finger at anyone or blame any group.  Nor did I jump on any bandwagon or support any political party.  I simply gave you the bare and undeniable facts.  Yet Mr. John Bodden stated that I 'epitomized' Minister McLaughlin's sentiment.

However, I never mentioned the Minister or the PPM.  My letter was a political document.  Yet Mr. Bodden referred to my letter and made unsubstantiated remarks about my grandfather and myself.

Remarks, which I consider highly insulting and inflammatory.  Then I read his letter and realized his actions.  He needed a scapegoat.  Mr. Bodden was essentially grasping at straws.

He was angry because he has been affected by the rollover policy, he does not care about our future, just his.  His exact wording was '...I'm hurting Mr. Alden, what about me?'  Woe is you Mr. Bodden.

I believe I even heard a violin in the background when I read this.  I highly doubt that Mr. Bodden would be complaining in this fashion if he had not been supposedly affected.  His sentiment proves me correct without his realization.  He does not offer any solutions to our growing problems.

He denies the facts to fit his fragile reality.  Is it my fault that Mr. Bodden built his paper castle on the sand?  Maybe he should have studied a little more and presumed a little less.

Here is an idea Mr. Bodden, try to train Caymanians instead of simply claiming that there are not enough qualified Caymanians for the workforce.  You should have done that in the first place.

Actually we should have all done this in the first place.  Of course Mr. Bodden is not going to listen.  He seems content to sit on his perch; griping, and continues to be a problem and not part of the solution.

My final remarks to Mr. Bodden are this.  Just because we share the same last name do not assume anything about my grandfather, my family and myself.

You will only sound simple and foolish.  Secondly my letter was not personal or blame orientated, yet it struck a nerve in your sensitive existence.  What a surprise.

Maybe it struck a nerve because it shakes up your belief hierarchy.  Finally your rhetoric is laughable and equally saddening, obviously you did not really know Mr. Jim Bodden and what he stood for.

So, do us all a favor and leave his name alone.  All you are doing is insulting him, his memory and his family.  The final advice is this; one thing I am sure of is that my grandfather loved all of his grandchildren.

He would not react kindly to anyone insulting them.  So Mr. Bodden, be thankful that you are not facing him.  Also, do not argue with a man who is more skilled than you.  You only lose and embarrass yourself.

Overall; Mr. Bodden, never start an argument with a man who will not let you win.  I never spoke of myself or my personal plight, yet that was your catalyst.

I only spoke about the Cayman Islands as a whole.  Whose motives are purer?  Pick a better target next time Mr. Bodden, a weaker target.

Do not pick a target that has learned from his predecessors what the love for one's country and his people means, and what the frauds that plague this love are.  Hope you enjoyed this letter Mr. Bodden.

Now remember everyone, I only preach unity, hope, foresight and facts.

I do not spout off emotional rants for my own selfish reasons.

Remember I am trying to help, not hinder.  So, pick a weaker target next time.

JM Bodden III