Ministers comments were disrespectful

I am writing this letter to express just how upset I am with comments made by Natural Resources Minister Jerome Kennedy in the House of Assembly on Dec. 19 when he told Bay of Islands MHA Eddie Joyce that he didn't have a Grade 6 education and to sit down.

I was brought up to believe that if you worked hard and were honest, that was a good start in life. In my family there were eight of us and my parents were blue-collar workers but that never got in the way of making an honest living.

When I was 13, my mom got very sick and I was taken out of school to help look after my family. Over the next several years, Mom spent a lot of time in the hospital. At the time, my dad couldn't afford to pay for extra help and there was no help available from the government.

I had no other choice but to leave school and go to work to help out my parents. I worked hard for a living in order to make ends meet and at no time did I look for a handout from government to make it through life.

And then Minister Kennedy had the gall to stand up and suggest that because I didn't get my Grade 12 I am stupid? Minister Kennedy has to remember that just because you don't have your Grade 12 doesn't make you a stupid person.

Unlike him, there are many in this province who weren't fortunate enough to be able to get an education.

I didn't need anyone to do a day's work for me and I don't consider myself stupid. The comments he made were disrespectful to Eddie Joyce, to the people of the province and to me.

To see someone in government who is supposed to be a leader and be a representative for the people of the province act in such a way is disgusting, hurtful and just plain wrong. I don't need Jerome Kennedy to make a living for me. I may not have the toys he has but I have lived my life to the best of my ability, in the most honest way possible.

In his eyes I might not be smart, but in my eyes I am.

I think he should apologize, not only to Eddie Joyce, but to the people of the province and to me.

Maggie Buckle

NL TURF: - December 30, 2012 at 00:31:06

Let's put this plain and simple - anyone who has followed his political drive , will certainly attest to the fact , that the little cracky has no political experience and is certainly not well liked!! Honestly Jerome, not to many people like your smug comments on any issue!! CBN certainly has a no name Liberal, who can defeat this arrogant , condecending bully!! Reread your comments for the past year and you SHOULD see, that you come accross as a typical know it all , who is never wrong!! Pity !!

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Ben: - December 27, 2012 at 12:50:49

Great to see the parents of Liberal staffers writing in. I wonder who wrote this piece?

Ron Tizzard

- December 28, 2012 at 09:40:39

Ben, it's not necessary that you announce to the world that you are illiterate, that's your personal business....anyway, you asked "I wonder who wrote this piece"? After you completed reading the article, Ben, to which you referred....you'll notice a name, in this instance, M-A-G-G- I- E B-U- C- K- L-E .....she was the author. Ben, never be ashamed of your opinion...it's your's...all 16 words...well said!

Herb Morrison: - December 27, 2012 at 10:31:11

Shame on you ,Mr. Kennedy. I have earned academic credits at both the undergraduate and Graduate levels. This means that I am better educated and better off, in some ways, than a good many persons of my sixty-plus generation. However, it doesn't mean that I am better THAN anyone of my generation or any other, particularly those who were not afforded the oppportunity to attain academic credits at either the high school or post-secondary level. My Dad, for example had only a grade six education, my father-in-law never attended school because he was forced to work in the inshore fishery from the age of six. Both these people were honest, hard working individuals who, despite their lack of formal education, learned, and taught others, by example, the value of hard work, respect for themselves and others, as honesty, and integrity. The vast majority of persons that I know, who have extensive earned an extensive number of academic credits don't believe that they have the answer to all the world's problems in their back pocket, along with their degrees or diplomas. Mr. Kennedy would appear to be an exception. He doesn't speak for me.

Ron Tizzard

- December 28, 2012 at 10:07:31

Well said Herb. The problem with Kennedy, and people of his ilk, is that his self-perceived self-worth is framed 'exteriorly' i.e. from the outside...what other people think of him. He has no sense of, or in him-self , therefore no compass to find confidence in himself. So, all he can do is attack when somebody even dears to have an opinion opposite to his. A question asked of Kennedy, or even a position taken oposite Kennedy lights his internal 'I'm being attacked' sensors...hence his attack positions we very frequently see...look closely, and he'll even appear to be foaming at the mouth. He has no sense that the public can sense his out of reach ire...should somebody not agree with him. Too bad, he's otherwise a great individual.

Ron Tizzard: - December 27, 2012 at 09:47:06

People, Kennedy took 'a piece' out of every person in this province unless they had...What? A higher 'academic' education? Is Kennedy posturig himself to be 'better educated' because he has a law degree? So, he knows his way around a Courtroom! Let us all stand up and shout...HAIL THE ALMIGHTY! kENNEDY IS A SELF-APPOINTED DEMI-GOD! The fact is, he is a very insecure individual, who cannot rest at ease in his chair while another even comes close to besmurching his 'deity, demi-god-like...school-boy bully'. He behaves the way he does because he is, in fact, a very insecure individual. Ever notice a scared dog...he'll stare and snarl...that's Kennedy. What do you do? IGNORE HIM! His behaviours define him, his genes are raging. His is a short fuse. Always divide his retorts by that, the general public viewing his rants know that...and do not appreciate those behaviours. When he disrespects any MHA, he disrespects the people of the Province, who voted for the MHA...our representative. People hold Kennedy responsible next time 'round. HE RESPECTS YOUR VOTE...NOT YOU AS A PERSON! sOMETIMES WE EMPOWER OUR OWN DEVILS! The good news is...you have a chance to change your representative in another couple of yeras...if you do not change your vote....suffer your decision.

Frank Tock: - December 26, 2012 at 19:37:26

@ David Keats. In my opinion, the ability of a politician to fully and effectively represent the interests of his constituents would be severely compromised if said politcian was engaged in distractions such as "self-teaching" while simultaneously participating in Question Period and the complex matters thereof. And please accept my thanks for providing the means to illustrate the premise of my previous post.

Petertwo: - December 26, 2012 at 09:47:20

People do not fall through the cracks they are pushed, starting with an education of the three R's- Read, Remember and Regurgitate. When people refuse to be pushed they get stomped on, metaphorically, by arrogant "educated" bullies. Not everyone is academically inclined.

Dee

- December 26, 2012 at 16:11:12

The best thing we can do for Mr. kennedy is not to vote for him the next time around. Do we really want these kind of people to be representing us in the House?

Eli: - December 24, 2012 at 23:40:14

Kennedy will squirm out of this just like he did following his tirade against politically appointed judges at the Hughes Inquiry. Petulant little bully!

stephen: - December 23, 2012 at 13:15:23

leftie crybabies out in full force today!

paul sullivan: - December 23, 2012 at 10:48:44

ms. buckle , you are of a much higher standard of intelligence than kennedy,and his disgusting remarks will ever be.

John Smith: - December 23, 2012 at 10:31:37

since when is telling the truth disrespectful??

saelcove: - December 22, 2012 at 14:34:51

The minnow has learned well

Foghorn Leghorn: - December 22, 2012 at 12:03:55

@ Maggie - Unfortunately Jerome Kennedy is nothing more than an adult version of a school yard bully. Further to that, his mentality hasn't progressed much since his schoolyard days as well. He is living proof that a university education is no indication to how smart a person may be. Keep your head raised high and be proud of yourself!

Frank Tock: - December 22, 2012 at 11:55:22

I would not question the base intellectual abilities of a responsible, self-sufficient adult whose scholastic achievments never went beyond Grade 5. I would, however, question the wisdom of those who would nominate and vote for that person to be their representative in a modern democracy.

David Keat

- December 24, 2012 at 08:40:00

Franck Tock, that's a pretty disingenuous remark. Your second statement clearly negates the first, therefore you do in fact question the ""intellectual abilities of a(n) ...adult whose scholastic achievments never went beyond Grade 5". Before you generalize like this, don't forget that people can be self-taught in most subjects, and having good character, morals and athe ability to understand principles is NOT taught in schools. Schools may help develop them, but so does the rest of life.

Duffy: - December 22, 2012 at 11:13:10

Ms. Buckle pay no attention to him because remember he is a lawyer and has no obligation to tell the truth. I knew an honest good hard working lawyer one time and he made the other 99% look bad.

elsh: - December 22, 2012 at 11:12:42

Jerome Kennedy should not only apologize to Eddie Joyce , but he should remove himself from government and buy himself a big mirror that might show him the true magnitude of his own ignorance and stop bringing this province into debt... Wasn't his first choice of professions putting criminals back on the street... missed your calling again... not all of us have achieved the high academic plateau as him but we never overlooked the concepts of civility, decorum and simple , plain good manners ... what great representation we have in him... An educated guffaw if ever there was one !!!

ken c

- December 23, 2012 at 21:12:58

People who make fun of other people, due to their lack of education in public is appalling. This shows a very unprofessional side of this politician and has diminished him in our views. On behalf of fellow Newfoundlander s here in BC i will offer an apology to Mr Eddie Joyce and tell him to sit down for no one.
Ron Tizzard

- December 27, 2012 at 10:17:09

John Smith, why must one stoop to 'disrespect' another in the process of telling the truth? We all have a right to 'our opinions', you may not appreciate them....so, why attack the messenger? Don't attack the messenger, attack the message with reasoned thought...which dialogue is all about...not personalities. People stoop to attacking personalities, most often, because they cannot retort to the topic rationally.

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The Telegram - Opinion - Letter to the editor

Minister's comments were disrespectful

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