Changes would spoil what makes Alderney special
'THERE is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about,' wrote Oscar Wilde in The Picture of Dorian Gray. And it is in that spirit that I take Chris Rowley's letter in the most recent Alderney Press (31 March) in which he complained about my 'tedious letters from a self-righteous windbag'. There are, however, a couple or three quibbles I have with his assessment of my missives.
First, I may be a 'hack', but I am not a 'tabloid hack', as he claims. USA Today, the newspaper I work on, is a proud broadsheet.
Second, though I may have opinions, they are, in general, pointing out what I view to be the inconsistencies and obfuscations of Fab/ARE and its allies. The only times I have attached names to these opinions is when I believe the principals involved have been spreading misleading information or have been advocating actions with which I disagree.
That is not the case with Mr Rowley, who mostly attacks me in personal terms. He is, of course, entitled to his opinions, but I fear, with his over-the-top characterisations, they reflect worse on him than they do on me.
Third, though the editors of the Alderney Press (no hacks there) have seen fit to print Mr Rowley's rant – as they are entitled to, given their duty to present a variety of views – they also have consistently printed my letters, so I presume they feel they have some merit. The latter also applies to the Journal and Guernsey Press. To suggest that they should not is surely somewhat of a slap at these noble editors' judgement.
Finally, as for his claim that I think 'nothing on Alderney should be allowed to change from the way it was when I was a boy', he is somewhat correct.
And that is precisely the main point of my letters – that changing the island in the ways being pushed by ARE/Fab's proponents will destroy what makes it special and will likely kill the goose that could – if properly supported – lay the golden egg.
Far better to keep Alderney as it is, attractive to residents and visitors, and concentrate on ways to improve travel links and other amenities that will improve the economy.
Also, as I pointed out in my most recent letter, I am not against renewable energy per se, just the way it is being furthered under the current scheme.
Meanwhile, it seems that many islanders agree with me, for they decided at the last election to dismiss several States members, including Mr Rowley, who apparently supported ARE/Fab.
Do I smell sour grapes? Or is the ex-'Senator' perhaps missing the limelight alluded to in my Wilde quote?
It would appear so.
MATTHEW DIEBEL,
mattdiebel@aol.com
