Bunny Wailer banned for homophobia

[James]

"When politics and religion ride in the same cart, none dare stand in their path."

I forget the source of the quote, but it describes life in Bush's AmeriKKKa these days. I've not seen this bad in my lifetime.

"I may not agree with a word you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it." --Voltaire

Another hard quote. Freedom of Speech is, and should be an absolute, which is what makes it so hard.

The answer to speech one doesn't like isn't violence or down-pression, it's more speech. The danger, of course, is when speech advocates violence. I have only one thing to say about that: I will also defend to the death the targets of down-pression, whoever they may be. Talk, persuade, argue, but never be the first to violence. It is an unforgivable thing to me to be the one who "throws the first punch."

This world seems to have lost the notion of, "Let us agree to disagree." A pity, that. It's what reasonable adults are supposed to be able to do. I have friends some of whom have beliefs I don't share. I wouldn't want them wielding power over me, but short of that, we manage to get along. We just don't get into the things about which we disagree.

I come to Reggae through its political side, that was true 30 years ago and is still now. Religion and I haven't been on good terms this century. I blame zealotry for that. Yet it doesn't stop me from enjoying many purely religious tunes.

There is a point beyond which I will not go, however. I will not accept intolerance. (I'm intolerant of intolerance--yes, I can accept the hypocracy in that.)

So I speak out, and vote with my wallet.

[love.light.peace]

Well posted James.

[Don Ragga]

"BONGO GRASS CART"

JAH B

[leggo rocker]

James wrote:
""
It is an unforgivable thing to me to be the one who "throws the first punch."
""
......

While I know what you are saying, and agree in principle. I take very slight issue with it on purely practical grounds.

I trained in martial arts (Tai Kwon Do) and my teacher always told me to anticipate the moment just before the aggressor throws that first punch. And then get your strike in first! It's about self preservation!

But of course, as any one else who has done 'proper' martial arts will have done, I have vowed only to use it in self-defence, or in the defence of the weak or endangered.

One motto is: Never be the one to start a fight but always be the one that finishes it.

So in that way, a student of these arts never truely starts any violence, even if they do actually land the first strike!

I hope my meaning is clear.

Like you James, I'm in favour of peace, but I'll fight if it comes to it.

Sadly, people all the time get confused, or coerced, forced or even tricked into fighting for what they think is right when it is really wrong.

As for religion, that's a man made thing. Made to suit man. The truth is something else - and it was made by God.

[MightyZ]

too often the finger is pointed at the 'sinners' who commit 'sins' such as homosexuality, ganja smoking etc.
This is so often a way of deflecting the eyes away from the real evil in this society.

I don't remember the 10 commandments mentioning homosexuality at all?
I'm sure I can remember sodomites will not enter the kingdom of heaven - I don't actually remember any bit where Jesus speaks out specifically against homosexuals (please correct me if you know the passage where he does).
Peter later on does specifically decry it - he's the guy who began the Roman Catholic church - and as we all know they have an 'exemplary' moral record on such things

Jesus does, however, does make quite clear links between evil and wealth. The moneylenders in the temple are referred to as thieves (banking hasn't changed much!) and he says 'it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven' and goes on to say that the rich man should give away his material wealth to follow Jesus. How many of the people who (especially in America) are making these strong statements against homosexuality etc. have followed that advice?

And what of that other commandment - Thou shalt not kill?
Pretty straightforward that one - how come so many so called Christians get that one wrong - and for that matter so called Rastas/Muslims/Hindus/Jews etc.. all the world religions seem to agree on that fairly clear cut statement - shame they so often choose to ignore it!

To my mind what sins people commit in their own little world that don't harm other are a matter between them and God - the one's that need action are those that cause suffering and misery for others - yet so often they are the one's that seem to go unpunished? At least until the final reckoning that is!


MightyZ

[judge dread]

to bunn fiyah on a person or thing duznt necessarily mean to physically bunn up a person or thing. bob is burning fiyah when he say " chase dem crazy baldheads out of town " his son stephen, is bunnin' fiyah when he say " chase dem !! run dem politicians !! " his son ziggy, is burning fiyah when he says " falsely proclaimed popes and priest who claim they are the closest to god, but who are u and how can u be who u arent "

many people who listen to reggae music get hooked on the beat while paying little attention to the message, seen. so while dem dancing to the music and getting hooked on dat heart beat sound, they have no idea dat revolution and fiyah is at their door. have no fear, revolution and fiyah only means change

[leggo rocker]

Understood JD

[James]

Leggo,

I studied martial arts too--Shotokan karate. We were taught to be aware of an impending attack, but that a pre-emptive strike was still not acceptable. OTOH, the statement our sensei would use was after we'd get our "attacker" onto the ground was: "So what now? Are you going to let him get up and attack you again?" So no, I have no qualms about using force in defense, I just won't strike first. That's how Bush got us into the screwed-up situation we find ourselves in now.

Judge Dread,

Sounds to me then that we're on the same page, with the answer to speech being more speech. If we can still "agree to disagree" then that's good. Better than most in fact. Hey, I bunn fiyah on Bush and his ilk every day!

MightyZ,

Also agreed, as long as it's Jah who's making the call as to who gets in. Humans are not worthy of making those sorts of judgements on others. This is why I oppose capital punishment, "Thou shalt not kill" is right!

Something I forgot to mention--hey, it was 3 AM my time when I clicked the 'Post' button--there are times when I wish I didn't have to know some things about artists whose work I admire. Not saying that ignorance is right, just less painful. Another hypocracy I'm fully willing to own up to.

I wrote recently in another post that DUBD'SCO Vol. 1 is my favorite dub album. I suspect that after this, my enjoyment of it will not be what it once was. I'm angry about that, but I'll get over it.

It's disappointing, to say the least, when ones heroes don't turn out to be what we want them to be. Of course, they're just being who they always were, so I guess it's our fault for putting them on too high a pedestal in the first place.

[leggo rocker]

I understand about the hero thing.

I was so pissed off when Sugar Minott stood us all up at the Jazz Cafe in London last year.

It cost me almost £200 in tickets, train fares and hotel rooms (we weren't told untilt he VERY last minute).

It also cost him a special place in my reggae heart.

Although, when I listen to his music, I suspect the 'bugga' (sic) is sneaking back in.



I also did Shotokan, when I was young. But later in life did Tae Kwon Do, which was the style I had always admired but was hard to find in England in the 70s. It is much more aggressive than Shotokan!

[gibey]

...gimme light, more fyah...

´Judge Dread´: You´d rather ´put it out´, or be sure you´ll get scorched soon!