In response to the letter from A Reluctant Non-Belonger in your April 2nd issue, I have a few thoughts I would like to share with him and others.

My first thought as I read his letter was to wonder how many people he has told about the millions of dollars he has spent on the island and how he pays more in real estate taxes than the rest of us.

Like most people anywhere in the world, we will take your money but we have little respect for someone who flaunts that money.

I agree to some of his points, it would be nice if there was a more open and pleasant greeting from every person one approaches for assistance be it customs, immigration, office worker or store employee. I must disagree however that there is any disrespect in how these same people respond.

I have found that people usually respond to how they are being approached at the moment as well as the expectations of the person that is a result of past experiences both with that particular person and with other people.

I wonder how frequently our Reluctant Non-Belonger has come up to a customs or immigration officer in a quiet relaxed manner with a smile and a pleasant greeting and with no expectations of special treatment being granted to him.

How often does he go into one of our shops with a smile for all he sees, even if he gets no response in return?

I wonder if he has ever quietly looked for a need on the island and then quietly filled that need with no expectations.

How often does he wish someone he passes on the street, or while going about his business, a pleasant “ hello” or “good morning”?

Does he ever look anyone he is passing in the eye with a quiet recognition of that person.

Has he ever spoken to/ waved to a passing car as he drives on our roads?

How often does he allow someone to pass in front of him as he goes through a doorway into or out of a shop?

Has he ever stopped to offer someone on the road side a lift?

How many of our children has he taken the time and effort to talk to?

Has he ever considered the fact that Anguillians are proud people and like proud people from anywhere in the world like to be self reliant and are hesitant to accept assistance especially if it comes with expectations?

I wonder if perhaps attitude here does not have a lot to do with the expressed feelings of alienation of our Reluctant Non-Belonger. Perhaps he needs to relax and allow our tranquility to lull him into a sense of what Anguilla is so that he could learn that he too could be a part of it, even if only for short periods of time

I have a strong feeling that because of the attitudes expressed by our Reluctant Non-Belonger and others like him (oh yes, he is not alone), there are other Non-Belongers who are being penalized by the island in such ways as having their permanent residence applications pushed aside when in fact they have become productive members of our society and do deserve that this application be considered.

As some one who was once an Anguillian Non-Belonger and is now an Anguillian Belonger, I have never ever felt offended by being called an alien or non-belonger. In fact it was a bit special in that it indicated that the Anguillians were aware of our differences but accepted me and were allowing me to live among them.

When I came here I knew that the Anguillian culture was different from mine but I accepted it and learned to work within it and appreciate it. At the same time I feel the Anguillians accepted me, and the part of me which is the culture that I came from.

I am proud that I once was a Non-Belonger and hope that I now live up to the privilege to be known as a Belonger.

- Name Withheld at Writer's Request

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