Dear Editor,

  Permit me to start this article by first and foremost commending Sir Alex Rosaria for his article entitled: “The injustice of white and Christian privilege”. I stand in agreement with him and as a scientist in social studies, I shall carry the issue (topic) a bit further.

  Indeed, on the 6^th of January 2021, the attempted coup d’état on Capitol Hill, America’s greatest symbol of democracy, was not committed by Black Lives Matter, nor a foreign culture of people. Indeed, the images of this shameful day, I saw on television, was crowds storming the security barricades, people climbing up the Capitol Building like animals … the breaking of windows, the breaking of doors, the ransacking of offices, guns drawn, shots fired and seemingly, the placing of explosive devices. What evil!

  Indeed, many of these Christian white supremacist groups and organisations in America and elsewhere stand on a foundation built of hate, anger, violence, and racism against other human beings. They pay respect and allegiance only to a “Son”, a “Christ”, a “Jesus”, a “prophet”… They speak only of a “Kingdom of Jesus”. Seemingly they never call God’s name. They never refer to the Creator: The Great Spirit of the Universe, nor to His creation, which begins by respecting another human being, not harming another human being.

  These racist Christian organisations in the USA all carry guns, yet they call themselves Christians. We can ask ourselves the important question: Do they trust in the Great Spirit of the Universe, or do they trust in their guns?

  As far as I am concerned, God is not a member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), nor is He a terrorist and much less a racist. For the Great Spirit of the Universe created all men and women equal and the planet Earth, the lands and the oceans belong to you and to me.

  As I wrote in my book, the fourth edition of Le Dictionnaire des Bons et Mauvais Amours (The Dictionary of Good and Bad Loves), today in our world and lifestyles, the concept of Christianity is tightly entwined with capitalism, populism, wealth, health… They preach that Christianity is the best religion and the only “faith” that can get a human being to heaven – when they themselves only refer and “dream” of the space shuttle of NASA that will get them to Mars and to Saturn and Neptune when they finish destroying planet Earth with all manner of “plagues”, pollution, viruses … and what else!

  They export their “beliefs” to other countries and cultures and many of these same “Missionaries of Christ” end up in jail or killed by tribal groups, or are found guilty of sexual misconduct. They practise certain rituals, they pray only to a “Jesus”, yet their values are far from the “origins” and they have little or no morals.

  Many of them only act under false pretences and in a manner, they fly the “Christian Flag”, they “advertise the Christian etiquette” as a means of safeguarding their “Caucasian identity”, while saying to the world that they are not, for example, a Muslim or Hindu or part of any foreign religion.

  May the Great Spirit of the Universe help by bringing order, respect and healing to humanity.

Beverly Richardson

Dear Editor,

  I do not have anything against any individual. What I will not accept is political leaders taking the people for a ride. And more and more the political leaders are disregarding their duties and what they were elected to do. The people in the government building are civil servants, and there are also public servants. Yes, that is what it is. We are paid by the people to serve the people. And you know what our salaries are more than those who pay us because they expect us to go out and serve them in the right way.

 This is also expected of our political leaders in government. The positions in government afford us a lot of leeway, but not to be disrespectful nor to become dictators. We also should not believe, as we would say, "that we can do what we want'.  We also should not, as it were, beat our chest with: ”I will not be stopped”.  These are not the days for that.

  The cockfighters have a saying for that. Over the years I have learned to examine what is said, and not hear who speaks. I believe nowadays that who speaks has much influence and not always positive. So, it has become necessary to pay attention to who is having the say. 

  The CDA asked about Brison and Corallo, and UP condemns  CDA for this while dragging the people of Sint Maarten into this melee. I  do not think that UP really expects the people to stand behind them. Brison did not invite the people for cocktails, neither did he let the people know what that meeting was all about. So why does UP think that the people are going to follow their lead because the CDA does not appreciate one of our political leaders hanging out with a person who was arrested by the authorities of, I believe, the country of his birth, for tax evasion and bribery of several politicians.

  I came to Sint Maarten and met my close relatives involved in a business which was rivalled to the same type of business that government sustained. Because of how I carried out my duty, politicians had my every step followed to be able to get something on me, and yes, it was expected of people in certain jobs and positions to keep out of certain circles. We all know which those circles are because we gossip about it all the time and also condemn it.

  It goes without saying that I do not appreciate a thief. But if a person is known to be a thief, not every robbery that was committed, was committed by that thief.  So, if the UP has an axe to grind with CDA, they are mature people who run the country, so keep us out. If you want to stand up for something, stand up for seniors who worked for years for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but whose pension is not equal to everyone in the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

  The Dutch government has resigned. We read about it for two days, and before we could guess who were involved, they took French leave, and we do not even know their names. Mario di Palma of District 721 plays his music which disturbs those who live in the neighbourhood and it becomes a saga. Instead of the police being left to mediate between parties to try to come to a consensus, the president  of Parliament, found himself down there to fix the situation. By interfering with what did not concern him (or did it?), he made himself look ridiculous by interfering where he should not.

  And to top it off, the CDA did what the Dutch typically do, made use of a long-awaited opportunity and let Brison know to be careful not to put his Italian friends up against his TEATT Minister.

 I hope it was not the honourable Rolando Brison who was  the one to okay that permit in some form or fashion, because that will be another reason to investigate those young people in government, who do not take warning. (I Timothy 6:10).

Russell A. Simmons

Dear Editor

  In this world presently we have people of a two-system belief.

  This topic has to do with how people see the world from two different ways which also affect the values and standard of lifestyle we live and govern.

  The majority of people believe man is basically good and humans need help from the smarter (the elites) people in the world to make the world function better by finding common grounds so peace can be established in the name of unity. Unity means the state or fact of being united or combined into one, as of the parts of a whole; (Globalism) unification; absence of diversity; unvaried or uniform character. oneness of mind, feeling, etc., as among a number of persons; harmony, or agreement. But the unity the elites mean is submission to what they want you to do. The elites believe in doing as we say, we know what best for you.

  The second belief system is the people who trust God, this is a small group of people. They believe in Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” They believe without God man is destined to destruction. And that if we do not turn to God man is doomed to fail. They believe only righteousness can save us.

  Righteousness is an attribute that belongs to God, the Lawgiver, and is manifested in His laws. No man can be justified by his own works apart from God’s ordinance. Therefore, righteousness is a wonderful gift from God to humanity through His love: it is the God-given quality imputed to man upon believing in the Son of God. Proverb 29:2 “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

  The two-belief system is a challenge for the world. You cannot serve two masters. God only will make peace to who is obedient to him.

  You can unite on a cause, but if the cause is not of righteousness it will never work. In the past man came in agreement or unity to build the tower of Babel, God destroyed it.

  The conclusion: unity is not the key to make the world a better place, only righteousness can. God makes it crystal clear: “Friend with the world is the enemy of God.”

  Choices have consequences, choose wisely.

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell

Dear editor,

  This topic is about values. First, let me explain the intention is never for people to agree or disagree. The purpose is for people to understand. Understanding is the key to how your response will be.

  A person's values determine who they really are, and what to expect of them. The individual values define one’s character. Values are principles or standards of behaviour, or an individual judgment of what is important in life.

  Character is the mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual. Every moral act consists of three elements: the objective act (what we do), the subjective goal or intention (why we do the act), and the concrete situation or circumstances in which we perform the act (where, when, how, with whom, the consequences, etc.).

  Many people live in a relationship with people they do not understand. That is why many marriages end in divorce, friendship do not last. I will now portray some examples for you to define who you are, and for people to understand you (not to agree or disagree).

  A man or a woman can be a good provider, but if he or she has nasty and bad conduct, will you marry people like that?

  A man or a woman can be very caring and great lovers but they cheat on you whenever an opportunity arises, will you marry people like that?

  A man or a woman that you may not find attractive and does not have much money, but they are honest, respectful, loving, and conduct themselves respectfully, would you marry people like that? Your values in life will decide what you are willing to accept or not, or what you find good or bad.

  What do you expect from a leader of a country? Must he or she only have education, or should he or she have good moral conduct and values that people can look up to?

The big question is, what is moral for you? Is abortion or homosexuality or adultery ok for you to live with once that person has money?

Can you marry a drug dealer if he or she is loving to you, and as long he or she sustains you financially, regardless of how he or she has attained wealth?

  Can you marry a man or woman who is rich, loving and caring, and is a good lover;  is very honest, but they do not believe in God, and hate Christianity?

  These are the things when you involve yourself with a person you should know and make it your business to find out before you enter into a relationship. Your passion for moral values will determine your quality of life.

The conclusion is that what you accept is what you deserve. Choices have consequences, choose wisely.

The Patriot Miguel Arrindell