I did not intend to weigh in on this St.Maarten song contest, but since we have cowards who dare not put their r name under their opinion I decided that I would address that and then ask a question after. I used the word coward because first, when you throw stones and hide your hand you are a coward; secondly, if you fear reaction then you are a coward, and thirdly, if you are afraid that what you write will be qualified as junk, then you are weakling and a coward because you have to learn to stand behind your opinion, whether it is shared by many or nobody. You should be brave like Yuiy HE, who in spite of it being a ticklish topic these days still dared to write that letter to the queen and not only add name but also telephone numbers to the opinion. By now almost everybody knows about Miguel Arrindell and what he stands for. I do not believe exclusion is part of his philosophy. If while reading your first impression is to disagree with what is written, please take your time and read it again in order to make sure that you understand what is written before reacting publicly. I would like to ask everyone one of you who have and opinion about Miguel and what he stands for, whether you earn an honest living here or not, how often during a conversation do you deny your country. Is it not so that you constantly say I am proud to be a St. Lucian, a Barbadian, a Dominican, a Dominican, and a Guyanese etc. And is it not also so that even those of you who are ashamed to say where you come from would not even try to acknowledge that because of being on St.Maarten you are where you are today. So what is wrong with Miguel standing up for where he was born? It seems as if you want to come from where you come from and run the indigenous person from their country. You make use of your right of freedom of speech to say all kinds of negative things and you do not want the native to voice his opinion on something that he was force to do because of the behavior of many who come here and get and do not want the indigenous to open their mouth. If they cannot make a mistake nor have an opinion here, where do you want them to have it? Whether I agree with what they say or not, they are indigenous and should have an opinion. Can Miguel go to another man's country and make noise. I do not think so. So here is where he has to do it. I will tell you what happened to me on one of our neighboring islands. I went there without a passport because I had gotten a ride in what we called the jump seat. I had my ID-card and of course my police ID. One of the immigration officers who knew me very well explained the colleague who I was and I was permitted to land. But I will never forget what immigration officer told me "My colleague told me who you are, but do not take it for granted". Opinion about the Sint Maarten Song was voiced from different circles on the island, by those who know and those who do not know. And because that competition is or was to be launched by government and which almost coincides with the issuing of the Sint Maartener ID card which Miguel is standing behind, could I challenge all members of Parliament to apply for or accept a Sint Maartener's ID and carry it with pride. Because I do not think you can be a member of Parliament of country Sint Maarten and refuse to be identified as a St.Maartener. I am not trying to put anybody on the spot, but I was a policeman for years and had to accept the good as well as the bad that came along with the job. And you know what was good about me even though I say it myself. I did not say I will get you some day. I accepted whatever came, just like some of the notorious thieves who have reformed and with whom I still share a joke today. They would tell me Russell you catch me three times but I get away four times that you don't know about. Let me ask this. How long does the Wilhelmus exist? Does everything what is written in the Wilhelmus coincide with the status of The Netherlands today? Some politicians want to get rid of the crown, do they also want to change their national anthem. What is the seventh word in the Wilhelmus? Are there any lies about St.Martin's historical and cultural coexistence in the St.Martin song? I do not know how many of you have had the opportunity to be present on occasions when the St.Martin Song was played abroad. But on every one of those occasions I have had several people ask me for a copy. Why do not plenty people sing the song? It's because we do not sing it in schools as often as we should. And this would also be the case if you get a new anthem and do not sing it. Another reason why it is not sung by many because too many of the people who again I must say make a living on this Sweet Sint Maarten land do not consider the St.Martin song as theirs. What should be done is to take that money which would be given as prize money and buy karaoke equipment with the St.Martin Song which I believe should become the St.Martin anthem and set it up and play it in places where the anthem will be sung so that everybody would sing along and eventually learn it and if they hear it often enough they will eventually recognize and feel it. And you know something; I know that visitors would also sing along because it is sweet and catchy. The worst singers in the world who cannot carry a tune sing along when their national anthem is being sung. This government gives out all kinds of documents and official books. Print the lyrics at the back of some of those documents that people have to save. If Sint Maarten changes for the worse in the next ten years would it coincide with what is in the new anthem then? And will we be changing the anthem continuously to accommodate the situation and status of the island. I think I would rather show how far I have come. It is said the song represents both sides of the island then if that is part of the reasoning for a new anthem, then let us not row about whether we should write St.Martin or St.Maarten, and also let us forget the treaty and also let us stop celebrating St.Martin day, let us also close the borders, let us not try to correct the drivers license situation. And I can go on and on with the let us stop. We keep saying that we are unique. So Why not portray the real sense of the word. I know Mme Minister is going to let me have it when we meet, but I have to tell the new sheriff in town do not blow away my song. Do not try to change history.
