Maxwell's war

The UBP have unveiled more details about their new strategy for fighting Bermuda's rising tide of violence_i

"In all my life I have never lived in a more violent and crime-ridden society," said Shadow Minister of Public Safety, Maxwell Burgess. "Some people are walking around the country with complete disregard for the rule of law. We have got to declare war on them."

"So if someone shoves you, shove them back. If someone throws a punch at you, throw a punch back. It’s them versus the rest of us. It’s important the rest of us win."

PLP MP Glenn Blakeney accused Mr. Burgess of stealing the idea from him.

Comments

[SmokingGun on 24.07.06 at 17:58]

Bang, Bang, Maxwell's Silver Hammer came down upon his head....

[departedexpat on 24.07.06 at 18:00]

Maxwell B. and the radio kingpin MP may endorse self-defense action, however I prefer letting the police handle violent crime.

[Blue Eyed Devil on 24.07.06 at 18:04]

These issues have been debated ad nauseum in the US for forty years or more.

The simple answer to all this is that black people regard the enforcement of criminal law as odious. Measures that are effective in reducing crime are regarded by them as oppressive. They believe crime should only be dealt with by providing services to the offenders to persuade them to behave otherwise. Aggressive policing and punishing criminals are hateful to them.

New York City under David Dinkins is an obvious example, or for that manner almost any other black majority city in the US. Black city governments are not incompetent or incapable, they just see crime as something that whites care about and the criminal justice system as oppressive to blacks.

The fact that Bermuda is a black majority "country" (the idea of a country of 70,000 or so people is pretty silly) does not make any difference. There is a *history* of oppression, there is a *history* of white dominance, and that is all that matters.

There is some small chance that those with the power will realize they could be killing the goose, and they need to quickly get a grip on things. But that is not the way black politics work. And from what I can see, black politics in Bermuda are very little different from the US.

But, like I said, I'm leaving as soon as I can, so it's not my problem.

[justamysticman on 24.07.06 at 19:38]

An “eye for an eye” is old school. And I don’t know if “war” is the answer to our issues with youth violence. I don’t recall a war solving any problems, rather they seem to create problems. American ways do not work here. Witness the effects of the so-called US War on Drugs, War on Poverty, etc. Basically wars on blacks. No improvement over the years... and now they’re totally politically oriented. Please let’s not not emulate the United States. They do not have the answers to our problems! Maybe the first thing we could do in Bermuda to reduce the gun violence is to offer an anonymous gun amnesty & buy-back program... where, say, $500 would be paid for every gun turned in to the Police with no repercussions. This could work well right now.... or perhaps better close to Christmas where wives & girl friends might just turn in their “man’s” gun(s) anonymously to buy gifts for their kids. Just a start... but we gotta start somewhere.

[ace on 24.07.06 at 20:19]

"Bang, Bang, Maxwell's Silver Hammer came down upon his head...."

arggghh...curse you! First thing I thought of...

;-)

[SmokingGun on 24.07.06 at 20:31]

Yeah but it's been the second, third, fourth for me. Damn thing keeps ringing in my head. ;-)

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 24.07.06 at 21:49]

Strange how Limey makes a joke out of this but had it been a PLP MP or senator I very much doubt he would have found any humour in it. The first thing he would do is criticise the PLP MP or senator even before determining guilt; just as he took Randy Horton to task under the heading Randy and the Pip Squeak Police. He did so on allegations not facts.

I guess we shouldn’t be too surprised, he states he is politically neutral but does not back this up with his writing.

Ah well, its his site, therefore, he can say and do as he pleases.

[Phil on 24.07.06 at 22:22]

There's no need to speculate, Guilden, you're right! I wrote a very serious post when Glenn Blakeney shoved Gary Moreno.

Lighten up a bit, will ya? The purpose of satire is to use humour "to attack or expose folly, vice, or stupidity", not dismiss it as a joke.

[jake on 24.07.06 at 22:25]

Hey Ole' Blue Eyes,

Your racist over-generalizations notwithstanding, you misunderstand the relationship between African Americans and black Bermudians.

We are a far more conservative population than you would ever dream. Most are in support of harsh law and order, and call for it on a regular basis. I don't know enough about Mayor Dinkins or his era to pass judgment, but for those African Americans I do know, many of them are very conservative as well.

You seem to think (like many people who have racist views) that we are all alike.

Much like white people, we are not.

Thanks for sharing, and please - when you leave - don't bother coming back. You help to perpetuate the view of white people that the rest of us are trying to dismiss, and that hurts us all.

[Enigma on 24.07.06 at 22:29]

- justamysticman,

Maybe the first thing we could do in Bermuda to reduce the gun violence is to offer an anonymous gun amnesty & buy-back program... where, say, $500 would be paid for every gun turned in to the Police with no repercussions. This could work well right now.... or perhaps better close to Christmas where wives & girl friends might just turn in their “man’s” gun(s) anonymously to buy gifts for their kids. Just a start... but we gotta start somewhere.

I have looked very carefully 3 times at your post but I still cannot find the infamous 'irony point'

Let's see, the person or persons who shot the young man in the car on Sunday night can now turn in the weapon and receive a most generous $500 windfall for being such a responsible, gang related, citizen.

Better still, the police can now forget any chance of securing a prosecution bacause the weapon used in the murder has just been purchased for $500 by the taxpayer of Bermuda.

It is time for me to pusue a new career as an arms dealer with Bermuda as an exclusive territory. Please, Please tell me you are not being serious???

[jake on 24.07.06 at 22:31]

Phil,

I thought it was funny.

What I really want to see is a Maxwell Burgess vs. Glenn Blakeny SMACKDOWN.

They can do it like the Ultimate Fighter Championships.

fight, Fight, FIGHT, FIGHT!!!

[justamysticman on 24.07.06 at 23:01]

...the person or persons who shot the young man in the car on Sunday night can now turn in the weapon and receive a most generous $500 windfall for being such a responsible, gang related, citizen. Do you really think that they are that stupid?! Enigma, gun amnesty with a cash pay out is a plan that has worked elsewhere. Or do you have a better idea to get guns off our streets? Please tell us, I hear there are hundreds of them out there.

[Phil on 24.07.06 at 23:22]

The Assistant Police Commissioner has already rejected a gun amnesty at this time, for precisely the reason that Enigma stated.

[justamysticman on 25.07.06 at 06:52]

That seems very short-sighted.... maybe sometime in the future after they catch the latest culprits. If they catch them. Meanwhile, do you really think that gun violence is going to stop...?

[Hello, my name is Somers and I am a Bermudian on 25.07.06 at 08:42]

What are you guys smoking??? Why would they ever even think about handing the gun in? I mean look at it. They know they aren't going to be caught, and they can go around "whacking" people carefree, and the gun is probably they ONLY thing that is giving them street cred right now. So handing the gun in is the most retarded thing to do right now in their eyes... And you think $500 is going to change their mind???? Dream on. Do you know what a bag of weed sells for on the street, or are you all just plain dumb.

[eh on 25.07.06 at 08:52]

Come on, Guilden. It's Maxwell Burgess. How can you do anything but laugh and roll your eyes?

[Guilden M. Gilbert, Jr. on 25.07.06 at 15:13]

eh,

Well, when you put it like that...

[Linda on 27.07.06 at 18:58]

I'm beginning to wish there were more MEN like Maxwell Burgess. The Liberals want the softly, softly approach. Get a grip...this is not working. Gangs don't use softly, softly, you mess with them, they shoot, chop, or bat. Maybe it's time men stop being "sentitized" and go back to being the leaders and heads of households that they used to be. We need hard core discipline, hard core punishment for offenders, and a no nonsense approach to crime and violence. Stop looking for the "WHY, WHY, WHY", they do it because they know they can get away with it, and they are laughing at the so called authorities that obviously lack any balls of substance.

[abi on 28.07.06 at 01:27]

As far as I can see, the comment of "it's them versus the rest of us" seems completely false.

In my opinion, gun crime in bermuda has been restricted to 'them versus them', with no 'us' involved whatsoever.