Dear Editor,
During my tenure as a police officer, I have had to scrutinize many documents of people from all layers of the world.
That contributed to me being a little more humble. I cannot readily speak for what is happening nowadays, but in my days it would surprise us to see the humility which was exposed by people who one would not expect. Doctors, lawyers, well-to-do business people, etc. It was at times like those that I understood the meaning between vinegar and honey.
I do not usually look at the writer before reading a letter written to you, that is to avoid anticipating anything, but I could not avoid this in the letter written to you by Alex David Rosaria, because his curriculum vitae took up one sixth of the letter. Because degrees and diplomas give one the qualification to perform, that does not necessarily mean that one is going to perform well. If what people did not do bothered me that much and I had the qualification that A.D. Rosaria has, I would offer to assist them, instead of criticizing them.
What I know from feedback that I get from a whole lot of people is that plenty of people are willing to write to you but that even though they speak English at home it is not the same as having to write to the editor of a newspaper, knowing that their letter could be published. I never tell them that their name can be withheld, because you know my opinion on that.
In my M.U.L.O. days we had to pass exams in four languages. We were examined in reading, writing and speaking all four languages. Once I asked why the reading examination? I was told that reading a language is not the same as speaking it. When you read a language you will have to be able to understand difficult or strange words to understand the context. When you are speaking a language you are able to use several words to explain yourself.
I do not believe in using difficult words, (even though I intentionally use them sometimes), because when I write I take into consideration that the person on the bus does not have a dictionary at hand to be able to follow what is written. I stand to be corrected, but if I can remember well, one of the reasons for writing in Papiamento was for exactly what Mr. Rosaria is criticizing. They wanted Papiamento to be recognized worldwide. I can relate to his reasoning, but having all those accolades and criticizing without offering assistance or a solution does not tell me anything.
Because I worked at the Immigration for a good while, I know that in the world of tourism, of which Aruba, Curaçao and, of course, St. Maarten are part , the tourists are consistently delighted in listening to the native languages. Besides that, I am sure that both the Netherlands as well as the rest of the Dutch Kingdom are always well represented in the English language when necessary. It is also so that we are constantly praised because of the size of our islands with the ability to communicate in so many foreign languages. Because I follow what is happening in MLB with our professional baseball players, I know that one of the reasons that they are the center of attraction of their teammates is because they serve as the interpreter between the Spanish-speaking and English-speaking players as well as their managers.
It will never be so that everybody in this world would be able to do everything, but when the Lord blesses you abundantly it is because you are expected to be a blessing to others.
Now this. To that person who wanted to know if “jamming in Carnaval was also honorable”, I say, “Ask the thousands of spectators who over the years were pleasantly satisfied and approved of one of St. Maarten's finests, directing and controlling the parades in a dignified and jolly manner.”
Russell A. Simmons
