Déjà vu?

Joe White

- July 28, 2012 at 11:11:14

Unfortunately, I was intending to send these words as an editorial and not an e-mail, but the website just does not make it easy to do so. Maybe this will suffice. Recently, Barb Sweet of the Telegram, reminded all of us of the suffering and abuse the young boys of Mount Cashel experienced in their formative years and, indeed, the challenges associated with those tragic events. I’ve had more than my share of challenges over the years and I’m sure that many of you have, as well, but the challenges experienced by my brothers, and I, and many of my friends, and indeed, a large majority of boys, and yes, girls too, in the Catholic education system of the sixties and seventies are infinitesimal in comparison to the challenges and horrors of Mount Cashel. I remember in the late eighties when the Scandal came to light, I was absolutely mortified at the abuse that Shane Earle and the rest of the lads suffered. Many days, I stood in front of the TV, watching the news, or reading the Telegram, just shaking my head in disbelief at the abuse the boys suffered at the hands of the Christian Brothers. Mr. Webster has not defined the words that can be put in context as just how I felt. The authorities of the day (the provincial government, the Catholic church and the Christian Brothers (and yes, they had authority, whether you believe it or not) the bureaucrats and the Constabulary) should be ashamed of themselves. The only noun that I can think of that would describe it is “disgraceful”. Dogs have been treated better. And the really sad part of that statement is, it’s not an exaggeration; and even sadder than that, it continues to this day. Shake the corn flakes out of your head, Premier Dunderdale. You’re confused. And to add to the confusion, your bureaucratic, pencil-pushing, pension-seekers at Confederation Building are denying Shane Earle a few dollars to continue on with his life; adding salt to wounds that will likely never be healed. That’s disturbing, and if you consider the old Chinese proverb, “If you can keep your head when everyone else around is losing theirs, then maybe you just don’t understand the situation.”, only then will you realize that the rest of the population feel exactly the same as I do. Where does that leave you?; the bureaucrats and the Cabinet Ministers. With your heads buried in the sand and your fingers buried deep where the sun don't shine, much like the mid-seventies, hoping that the situation will correct itself. That’s likely, not going to happen without your financial assistance to help that man out after denying him his childhood back in the seventies. You could have done the right thing in the first place and printed a purchase order for a couple of hundred bucks to help Shane out. It’s not too late, you know! Or is it? “Kathy” and “Jerome” are considering a 9.2 billion dollar white elephant. That’s not a typo. Some will have you believe that it’s only 6.2 billion. There’s just no end to the confusion, is it? “Kathy!!, Kathy!!, we have a go.” We can develop a $9,200,000,000 slab of concrete in Labrador and suck the lifeblood of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians for generations and they haven’t got a clue.” “What about Shane, Jerome?” “Shane who?” That says it all, doesn't it? What a sad world we live in. You just don’t get it, do you? You’ve been smothered by the sand and it’s interfering with your ability to make sound decisions, or as George reminded us: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Dejavu all over again. Joe White, Goulds 693-9563

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William Daniels

- July 27, 2012 at 14:02:01

Muskrat is the next big givaway by NL.

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  Eli

  - July 27, 2012 at 15:33:03

  The writer forgets, according to statistics Canada is the best place in the world to live. Could fool me.