Dear Source:
I am not sure why I should even bother to reply to Rob Pfriender's ignorant and arrogant remarks regarding Sirenusa and his personal attacks on those who oppose giving the developers of this hideously oversized, out-of-place, ill-conceived and dishonestly executed monstrosity even more room to abuse the land and the people of St. John, but here goes: I cannot believe that Mr. Pfriender has actually seen, in person, what this development, visible from Red Hook, has done to the appearance of our small island. If he had, I doubt very much that he would like what he sees. (Unless he is one of those who just believe that bigger is better, no matter what. Or unless he owns stock in the corporation…) The developer stated that, when finished it would look like a, 'Tuscan village'. Last time I looked, Tuscany was in Italy. Why would we want a Tuscan village on St. John? We have two villages now, Cruz Bay and Coral Bay. What does the design of this place have to do with Virgin Islands' history, culture or architecture? The astronomical price of the smallest unit belies any comparison to a village. This is a cluster of condos, perched precariously on what was a hillside dotted with small private homes. It is utterly, conspicuously and obviously out-of-place.
As to Mr. Pfriender's assertion that we shouldn't demand that our one, lone Senator from St. John should represent the interests of those who actually live here, I must ask to whom we should turn for our representation? Celestino White? I think not. Senator Carmen 'One-Term' Wesselhoft has sealed her political fate. We will never trust her again. Enjoy your two years as Celestino's lap dog, Sen. Wesselhoft! You'll be looking for a new lap soon.
Mr. Pfriender, you plainly do not know the people you are attacking, just as I do not know you. If you are so familiar with St. John, why do those of us who have lived here 25 and 30 years not know you? You claim to have friends here, and to be a frequent visitor. Can you name five of those friends? When were you last here? Have you spent longer than a week or two here on any given visit? Do you own property here? Do you plan to live here the rest of your life, as I do? Or are you just an interfering, opinionated busybody, who can't resist spouting off about things of which you are abysmally uninformed, and people of whom you have no personal knowledge?
I have known Catherine Fahie for many years. We have not always seen eye-to-eye on everything, but your personal attack on her is totally unwarranted. Your suggestion that she get busy beautifying St. John is absurd. When I see you out picking up litter beside the road in the hot sun, as I have seen Catherine do countless times, then I'll begin to give your opinions some weight. Wally Leopold is well known and well respected here. To attack him without knowing him is equally absurd. If you choose to now attack me, well, I guess I'll survive.
If you had ever studied logic, you would know that Argumentum ad Hominem, addressing an argument by insulting your opponent, is a logical fallacy so old it has a Latin name. Even in ancient Rome and Greece, it was clearly understood that saying, 'My adversary is wrong because he is a baaaad person!' is, well, baaaad logic. Ah well, you are entitled to your opinions, and I am entitled to mine. The next time I think of some way to improve things on Long Island, I'll let you know.
Michael Beason
St. John
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