Alice In Wonderland
Moorhead calls Delegate's defense of Diago deal "self-serving"; her characterization of Virgin Islanders "demeaning."
Guest Editorial by Jeffrey B. C. Moorhead, Esq.
Jeffrey B.C. Moorhead, Esq.
I read Delegate Christensen’s recent contribution to a local publication and, on first reading, thought it to simply be another lame effort to present herself as the national guardian of our territorial interests. But as I read, again, her defense of the “Diageo debacle” I found it self-serving and demeaning to those in our community that live, work and die in our community without ever having the opportunity to see “the big picture” that Delegate Christensen believes we must all appreciate.
I found Delegate Christensen’s comments offensive and demeaning to the people of our islands and felt compelled to publicly respond on their behalf. As Delegate Christensen well knows – and yet seems to forget- it is these same people she so easily degrades who are the ones she has been elected to serve, hi that regard, she is not alone but she symbolizes much of what is wrong with our political system in the Virgin Islands.
In recent years it has become too easy for the people’s elected servants to sacrifice the “interest of the many” for the “interest of the few”., and then try to make them believe it was a righteous decision. We need not go very far to find the truth in that statement. Just look at what our delegate has to say about the “Diageo debacle”. The biggest beneficiaries of that deal certainly are not the hardworking, struggling members of our community..instead the pirates and foreign executives, the beltway lobbyist and the local politicians and attorneys that supported this deal are toasting their success. But the hardworking people of this territory aren’t left out of the deal..we are “on the hook” for the 60 years of concessions that have been made to Diageo if things don’t go just as Delegate Christensen and her fellow travelers have envisioned.
For those of us fortunate enough to see things without the benefit of rose-colored glasses we know full well that our Delegate Christensen has no clue what the people of the Virgin Islands think, what we feel or what we know. In her many years as “our” representative in Washington, Delegate Christensen has found little time to actually promote the interests of our community..our peoples..or our values. Delegate Christensen has become so enamored of the “Ways of Washington” that she has forgotten that she is supposed to be ONE OF US and not one of them.
As I read Delegate Christensen’s article I was reminded of the story Alice in Wonderland. In the story, Alice takes tea with the Mad Hatter. After finding it difficult to converse with Alice the Hatter advises her to “just say what you mean.” I would say the same for Delegate Christensen. Her opinion of Virgin Islanders that happen to disagree with her may seem veiled to some but not to me. As one of those that will not share her “vision” I must be one of those she so carefully suggest are ignorant, parochial and pettty. So why not just come out and say it.you think we schupid.
Well, never have I known someone who is so removed from the world that shapes our community man our esteemed Delegate. We don’t live in the ratified world of Washington where it’s only other people’s money that is spent, like a drunk sailor….and spent like there is no tomorrow—but so tittle of it spent here, for us.
For the record, anyone who cares to look at the facts that surround the Diageo deal cannot help but find fault enough for everyone whose fingers touched the paper..including Delegate Christensen and to suggest that someone who is skeptical of it makes one a disloyal son of the Virgin Islands-then call me one – worse yet call me “a tea partyer.” I find something much more important than Delegate Christensen’s endorsement to be important to me. .my conscience. A wealth of information has been shared that strongly suggests that the Diageo agreement lacked the honesty, integrity and transparency it demanded and the peoples of our communities deserved. Finding favor with the arrangement – and its adherent – cannot, as Delegate Christensen suggests, be viewed as a test of fellowship that marks a Virgin Islander.
I am shocked and outraged by Delegate Christensen’s insinuation that the voices of Virgin Islanders who seek a different vision than hers, and her ambitious friends, are divisive, foreign and evil. Her effort to purposely divide our community into “us” and “them” only serves her and her political backers by blinding us to the fact that it is change that is essential if we are to move forward. It is time for a new voice in Washington, a new face, a new dream..and that time starts now. In poker there comes a time when every opponent faces the need to meet the other’s players call, raise the stakes or fold their cards. In this instance, I think it is time for Delegate Christensen to “fold her cards” for it’s clear she is holding a poor hand..and a poor hand poorly played is a lost cause.
In closing let me just say I drink bush tea in the morning,.but I am not sure what our Delegate is consuming for it certainly is affecting her perception and judgment..and mindful of the Mad Hatter’s wisdom I would suggest that Delegate Christensen learn to “say what you mean”.. and even more importantly, “mean what you say.”
Jeffrey B. C. Moorhead, Esq.
The Crab salutes all mothers on this their special day.Happy Mothers’ Day!!
@ Mapp/Williams 2010 AKA. SCHUPID BUSH BLOGGER
We really get the point that you do not support Mapp 2010. We also see you are desperate and very disturbed. Your indifferent post, tells much of your hate and pain inside you. Seek help.
happy mother’s day to all the strong mothers of the territory
keep the good work up jeff we will back you 100%, you will be in congress in 2011.
What good work has Jeffrey done? I have not heard any proposal from him saying how he can do better than Donna. How many haters are needed to get Jeffrey to Congress?
What were the statements that Jeffrey felt were demeaning? How about putting Donna’s actual words here so that the bloggers can read them. How does Jeffrey know what the people think, feel and want?
Donna’s op-ed in the St. Thomas Source on 4/28/10 follows. This is the statement that gets me – especially after hearing govt employee after employee stand in the legislature on May 4th/5th proclaiming they make over $90K/year!!! “and that we would have the funds to provide decent and deserved salaries for government workers,”
Term limits, if not mandated by law, need to be enforced by the people. New blood is needed!
****
Biting Off Our Nose to Spite Our Face?
By V.I. Delegate to Congress Donna Christensen — April 28, 2010
I would have never thought that I would have seen elements of “tea partyism” in the Virgin Islands given that beyond the libertarian ideology it espouses, there is also an element of racism at its core, but I have to wonder if it hasn’t infected our populace as well.
As I see the “tea party” folks, they have been so aroused into blind anger by some of the rhetoric against President Obama’s agenda that they not listening to/not hearing the facts of the issues they are railing against. They are acting irrationally and against their own best interests.
This is not being submitted on behalf of the governor or any private interests. I do not work for Diageo or Fortune Brands. I work with this governor as I have sought to do with every administration during my tenure on the Hill. There are issues that we agree on and there are those where we do not. As I did with Gov. Turnbull and Gov. Schneider, I try whenever possible to keep the disagreements between us. Some I commit to writing. When obstacles are put in the way of direct collaboration, I continue to work with their staff or lobbyists.
What generated this op-ed are the continued attacks by some Virgin Islanders against the Diageo and Fortune agreements – agreements which were negotiated against the backdrop of serious global competition and duly ratified by the V.I. Legislature.
What elevates my concern is that some of the attacks are coming from elected officials who have a responsibility to provide for the needs of the people of our territory.
The agreement is in place, the buildings are going up at record speed, and the territory has already borrowed on those agreements. Whether we agree with the terms or not is irrelevant now. What is relevant is that Virgin Islanders need to stand for the Virgin Islands and for those of us who live here — many of whom are suffering under heavy financial burdens, compromised services and long-term unemployment.
For Virgin Islanders, the fight that the Puerto Rican coalition (not the Puerto Rican people) is waging, is not so much about Diageo or Cruzan Rum or even Gov. DeJongh; and the sooner all of us see that the better.
If it was only about them, I might not be so determined in my efforts to save the agreements. I have made it my fight because it is about future revenues coming to us once Captain Morgan rum is produced here and Cruzan Rum increases production. The core issue is ensuring that there are increased and new revenues coming into the territory to provide more jobs, improved services and a better quality of life for Virgin Islanders; that the South Shore will finally be cleaned up and hopefully the marine environment restored at least in some part to a viable fishery; and that we would have the funds to provide decent and deserved salaries for government workers, secure the pensions of our retirees, provide nurturing environments in our schools, expand health care services and meet other needs.
Working against these agreements works against ourselves and our future.
So the people of the V.I. have a decision to make: Are we going to be like Tea Partyers, biting off our nose to spite our face, or are we going to set our personal conflicts and petty (or even significant) disagreements and politics aside, and unite for the Virgin Islands against all who would destroy, not just our economy, but the dreams of our ancestors for us, and ours for our children?
I hope so! The alternative is not acceptable!
Donna M. Christensen
V.I. Delegate to Congress
Why should we not fight for rum revenues? We are fighting and killing each other. Looks like Jeffrey wants Donna to stop trying to protect the rum cover-over program. Why? If insulting you by saying you are a tea partyer is a big issue, why not prove her wrong? Help her do the job better.Tell us that you rather see the Diageo deal dead because it does not benefit us. Tell us to support your candidacy because Donna;s statement made you feel demeaned. You let a woman control your buttons? What if she had call you a crybaby wimp? Ask her to apologize personally to you for making you feel so small.Ask her to include your full name in her response you feel entitled to receive.I think you are too thin-skinned for this race. The names that you are being called on the streets are to profane for this site.Your mom and you will cry a river when you are skinned alive. Be ready for the match!
@ Anonymous, I agree with you, where are the demeaning comments?
I don’t know about the rest of you,but I think if you carefully read the last paragraph of the delegate’s op-ed and consider the economic predicament in which the territory finds itself, you’ll agree that she,herself,by asking whether ‘are we going to set our personal conflicts and petty disagreements and politics aside ,and unite for the virgin Islands AGAINST ALL WHO WOULD DESTROY,NOT JUST OUR ECONOMY’ ETC,ETC,makes a powerful arguement as to why those who see their governor and members of his administration as being the ones who are not only destroying the economy of the territory,but also the dreams of your ancestors and that of your children,WOULD HAVE REASON TO IDENTIFY WITH A GROUP (the Tea Partyers) SHE TRIES TO MAKE OUT AS BEING A DESTRUCTIVE FORCE.
It is,I think,a cunning attempt at deflecting blame.Re read the last paragraph in its entirety and you decide for yourselves.
Team Mapp / Williams 2010 fully supports Delegate Donna Christensen on her reelection bid. Delegate Christensen is prepare to continue to fight for the people of the Virgin Islands in Congress.
Vote for Delegate Donna Christensen and the Mapp / Williams power team in November!
Run Jeffro Run. Run behind the bone. Get the bone Jeffro…get the bone.
Jeffry, why do you want to be delegate and abandon St.Croix? Your association with Mapp will destroy you.If you are not supporting Donna, tell us why? Other than calling you a tea partyer, what has she done to you? You drink bush tea in the mornings, so what is wrong with being called a tea partyer?
Let’s not do silly. Drinking tea has nothing to do with the racist “tea party” group.
In answer to your question,”what has Donna done to you”? We can start with doing nothing for years and then bringing us Diageo. She is giving away local lands without public hearings. She has done more lobbying for mainland African Americans than Virgin Islanders.
She has travelled the world. What was the benefit to the people of the Virgin Islands?
The corruption will come out. If any of these people had a “shame” button they would be resigning, yesterday.
It’s Mapp fault crime is out of control in the Virgin Islands. Mapp has not said or done nothing about crime since his fail bid for governor in 2006.
Mapp you should be ashamed of yourself. Now here you come again begging for votes. You are one tired old man.
It’s all your fault Mapp.
‘Sojourner’,
I don’t know about the Tea Partyers in your neck-o’-the-woods,but that organization came about when people,stateside,had had enough of Obama’s socialistic policies and the havoc they are having in (and on) our financial and economic institutions,both domestically and globally.
It did not come about by way of racism as Mr.Obama and his supporters would have you and others believe.
Personally,I am not a member of of any chapter of the Tea Party organization,but I can assure you that I do subscribe to much of what they espouse and if,in someone else’s eyes, that makes me a racist then that’s their problem.
Hey,the last time I checked,one is still entitled to his or her beliefs and no president,
delegate or congress can muzzle that inalienable right.
@ Soldier Crab 8:15
Mapp is the Virgin Islands Tea Party and it’s all Mapp fault.
Administrator,I notice my comment of 12.27am has been repeated verbatim @8.15 am….except for the capitalizing of some words.
Would that be an oversight on CIF’s part or,as I suspect,games are being played?
Just wondering!
Sorry administrator,I think I misspoke.They are different comments made a t different times.
My apology.
@ Soldier crab
“It did not come about by way of racism as Mr.Obama and his supporters would have you and others believe”
As you stated this phenomenon known as the Tea Party started because people were fed up of Solcialist policies by President Obama. Here is where you lose me and you sway the uninformed or simple minded people. Before the President could implement anything, the “non racist” tea partiers were shouting they want their country back. From whom? Who took “their” country? Is it just a figment of peoples imagination that hatred and racial animosity has been on the rise and these fringe groups recruitment has quadrupled since President Obama’s election? Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder could clearly see the motives and vociferous attacks waged by the Tea Parties are done out of racial animosity and hatred, because the resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave is a black man, plain and simple.
But continue with your illusion of “being fed up with socialist programs”, oh by the way so many of the Tea partiers are on Medicare, does that not constitute a soclialist program? Oh I forgot that was granted by FDR, NOT President Obama