Dear Source:
I am a Caribbean person and sometimes I do feel like Mr. Sidneye Corvinus, in terms of the subtleties and derogatory remarks directed at the Virgin Islands by some persons who come here from the U. S. mainland. Many of them adopt an air of superiority and speak of the islands as if they left a perfect society to come and live in the "primitive colonies." They quarrel about lines in the post office. They are upset about the houses some Virgin Islanders own. They criticize the schools. And they think everyone here should see the world from their perspective.
It was from that perspective and based on the criticisms made by Mrs. Graham that I used the word "colony." Contrary to what Mr. Corvinus thought, I was defending the Virgin Islands. No I was not born here. No I will not fight in Iraq. But when these islands are attacked unfairly I will stand up for them.
Whitman Browne
St. Thomas
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