Protectionism sets in it seems, then the famous cliche comes "battyman fi dead" (gays are to die), the trouble Buju Banton for example is now experiencing with his shows being cancelled on his US tour is another side to intolerance as well, he says he has now moved on from bashing gays and even requested that we buy his new CD (even though he still squeezes in a live show or two performing the murder music) as it is for everyone yet his past utterances has come back to haunt him. Is it that the oppressed has become the oppressor? where in this case gays now use every ounce of power to stop homophobia and rightfully so but do we stop to give the benefit of the doubt or are we insistent on action so much we don't think, mark you I am not defending Buju but I just question sometimes how advocates work. We can't be asking for tolerance from the mainstream and then silence of muzzle someone because their opinion to which they are entitled to hold doesn't match our views. I think we still need dialogue both within our LGBTQ community and with our opposers as well.
Rastafarian flashback
The Rastafarian community by extension is another good example that we can judge by in as far as intolerance is concerned, in the late sixties and through to the seventies rastas were vilified, scorned and mocked by Jamaican society as they were considered lower than human and treated as outcasts, I can remember as a child in the mid seventies boarding a then JOS - Jamaica Omni-bus Service bus the green and silver buses that ran in Kingston. We were parked on King Street during the day as passengers boarded and took their seats. A male Rastafarian entered the bus wearing "normal" clothing which was not customary as they wore traditional khaki or flowing red green and gold gowns and tams with flags and effigies of Haille Selassie. As he boarded and paid the conductress, firstly she clearly was uncomfortable, then some passengers literally disembarked the bus and demanded a refund to wait for the other bus in line.
This was probably my first full view of open discrimination to a minority as a child not knowing that I would end up on his end of the scale as a gay man discriminated against. I remember at that young age (about 6 years old) I knew about rastas but never understood the reason for the public's disdain towards them, it was my mother who tried her best to explain while we sat in the bus with the few remaining passengers who also discussed the issue while the bus proceeded to its destination. The rastaman was clearly upset and vented the usual chants of fire and warnings of burning in hell. Now I watch as rastas lead the charge in calling for the death and maiming of gays and lesbians, so the oppressed indeed has become the oppressor.
PDA - public display of affection as we know is a no no here for gays and lesbians and rare do you even see straight couples being openly romantic as we are not an expressive society like that, if you do see it you may hear heckling or "get a room" comments from the penny section.
The church is another matter as we know the incessant push of theocratic views and legislation to control morality when the church should be more concerned about love and caring for all despite their stripes (other posts on here that covers those issues).
As today is popular talk show host Wilmot Perkins's birthday his controversial views has always tickled us, one in particular if I may paraphrase he asks, why do we have to judge people by who they sleep with? a very good question which to date I haven't heard any of his detractors properly answer. ( I listen when I can, I may have missed it if it has occurred). He has said he has gay friends and that the focus of the friendship is just mutual and professional respect.
Just as how over time we as a nation have come to lift Rastafarianism to the point of a god like state now where there are now splits in that community with the twelve tribes of Israel separating from Niabingi and so on, the LGBTQ community could retrace those steps that they took to get there. Acceptance of self and recognition identity are some of the most poignant actions taken and still used by this group today. While most of us as LGBTQ people hide, not to say we should come out with a sign on your forehead but one's own self examination and self assurance. The population on a whole must recognize that we already are a tolerant people, we have so many races, religions and groups that co-exist with very little scuffles if any. Muslims and Christians with Rastafarian's etc.
It is remarkable sometimes to see a bus preacher for example having a philosophical discussion with a Rastafarian on that same bus today without passengers getting off or it descending to an out right brawl although that has happened during the late stages of the society's "softening" towards Rasta in the late seventies to early eighties. Lesbians enjoy some tolerance in our society as we have seen over time but I think it is slowly withering away as more Jamaicans openly match "sodomites" (word used here to describe a lesbian as well) with battyman (gay men) to receive the same treatment.
Clearly we have a long way to go as as judging from sentiments expressed all over, here is a comment from Jampersonals page for Finance however someone started a discussion on Jamaica being the most homophobic place on earth which roused a string of anti gay answers:
comment posted mr lonely35
"BATTY MAN FI DEAD AND WE NAAAAAAAA STOP SAY THAT COULD EAVEN BE MY BROTHER EAVEN IF IS MY SON HIM FI DEAD ,IF I EVER HAVE A SON AND HIM IS BATTY MAN I BRING HIM HERE I TAKE HIM OUT HERE GOD LOVE JAMAICA" -
MORE
So where do we begin ....... more to come on this as the feelings rouse I will write.
Peace
H
podcast:
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