Roots Archives Forum

Good point Jah Bill.

But how about this: Many Rastas choose to keep their locks in a tam and consider it a privilege for others to even see them. So if these guys are actually Rastas how would they fit into that scenario?

And regarding the herb - in NYC it is regarded most definitely as a drug, same as everywhere else and people lose jobs, go to jail and are basically persecuted for enjoying the stuff so while you might catch a whiff of someone blazing up on the street it doesn't mean that that person won't run into some kind of trouble because of it at some point in their life.

Stupid laws...

ACEtone wrote:Good point Jah Bill.

But how about this: Many Rastas choose to keep their locks in a tam and consider it a privilege for others to even see them. So if these guys are actually Rastas how would they fit into that scenario?

Oh, right. I thought that they just wore the tam to keep the dreadlocks out of their faces when doing stuff...

Shows how much I know.

As I (often fail to) understand it the whole locks thing is very deeply complicated.
I don't mean to make a value judgement in saying what I'm going to say next, but I remember reading a few bits and pieces about the Taliban in Afghanistan and how their beards and long hair were a matter of doctrinal necessity - to be a proper muslim of their sort you had to never cut the hair, but such was/is the nature of their version of Islam, their environment, former influences etc. that the beard and hair very quickly became a matter of extreme vanity - so it sort of became an opposite expression of what I understand the original Rasta intention regarding the locks. Which was eschewing vanity, preening, regard for outer appearance so that such distractions could be replaced with meditation on the spiritual part of the self.
Seems like the Taliban got it ass backwards.
I have to say, I'm very much in favour of not shaving or cutting hair but I seem to get into situations in life where I'm forced to do it.

It seems to me a bit trivial to complain about having to cover your hair at work when outside of work hours you can do what you want with the hair, whether in the form of locks or otherwise - but then again it is no trivial matter to be forced by regulations - job - or laws to appear a certain way.

The US is still very puritanical in many ways.
You can do what you want, within the bounds of what is tolerated, but step over any boundaries and you can quickly get slapped back into conformity - or suffer.

Just my one cent. I can't afford 2!

And check this: A few days ago I was at an airport in Florida about to go through to the gates and was at the last ID check. I showed my picture ID which has a pic of me with long hair, tied back and a full beard. The stupid ass TSA woman says - joking - but with a serious face - "look like you getting ready for Jihad".
Now if I had used the word Jihad most likely I would have been moved to a little room where they would have got medieval on my ass and no doubt other parts of my body and mind.

People place to much importance on appearance and the meaning of it or indeed the lack thereof.
If I choose to have long hair and a full beard, maybe I'm a f**king hippy at heart, or a white bwoy who just loves di reggae music - why the stupid comment?
If I see someone with a mullet, do i stop and stare and make an assinine comment? No. I keep my thoughts to myself and hard as it may be, respect a person's right to have a bad haircut!

Don't get me started!