Dear Source:
I would like to thank Mr. Divine for his well-written response to the young legislative aid, Ms. Mills. His response took into account all the questions raised by Ms. Mills and answered each thoroughly and eloquently. Although I do agree with many of the points Ms. Mills raised, and have been where she is only 17 years ago (time flies), my experience of the world has taught me to look objectively at things that affect my life.
It is easy to be swayed to believe an issue is only us against them, black against white, "born here" against continental. For years I felt this way, and my attitude would project this. Upon leaving St. Thomas and traveling the world while in the military I have had an opportunity to see how cohesion and cooperation can accomplish great things.
When Mr. Divine states that the issue of pay raises made every community group angry, he was correct. I immediately got on the phone and expressed my anger to my one sister still there. Egregious pay raises such as this take away from the budget of the entire V.I and causes short falls in places where the money would be better served. Then the very slick political maneuver to have the bill brought up by an unnamed phantom senator is Machiavellian to the core. I am sure Karl Rove would be proud of such political maneuvering.
All residents of the V.I share in their prosperity, and suffer through their woes. Cohesion and cooperation is the key in uniting everyone in peace and harmony.
Anthony Fontaine
Walnut Hill, Virginia
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