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Are Rastas Unpatriotic?
Our good friend, Historian, has accused Rastas of being unpatriotic. He said they don’t respect the Jamaican flag when they are always displaying the red, green and gold and not the black, green and gold. He chastises them for preaching their “Back to Africa” philosophy and not a “Forward Jamaica” one. He is proud that he is not afraid to criticise them, as many of us are.
I think Historian’s view is shallow and so typical of the very people that have made and continue to make the lives of Rastas a living hell in Jamaica.
Historian has obviously forgotten that Rastas are not the only people/religion that do not pay homage to national symbols. Jehovah Witnesses do not stand for the national anthem. There must be hundreds of religions whose followers do not consider themselves of this world, and as such look to the afterlife or some other nirvana. If that makes them unpatriotic, then fine, but why single out Rastas?
Does Historian know the History of Rasta? Whose history is the name Historian acknowledging? Rastas have been spat upon from its inception, and even after 70 odd years of existence, they continue to be ridiculed and marginalized by Jamaica and Jamaicans. And you want them to be patriotic? They should look out for Jamaica while Jamaica treats them like dirt??! I don’t get it.
And how is the Rasta’s use of the red, green and gold flag any different from that of Jamaicans hanging the Jamaican flag or colours from the rearview mirrors in the cars? Are they unpatriotic towards the USA? Did you know that Leonard P. Howell, the founder of Rastafari, was a dapperly dressed individual who would adorn his suit with the colours of the Jamaican flag? Yes, black, green and gold! This was as far back as 1934. Still trying to find the significance of this but it is ironic that those colours became our “national colours” 28 years later.
Historian, time to give the Rastas some respect. If there is any group that has made Jamaicans know themselves, find themselves, it is Rasta. If you don’t have pride in yourself then it’s pretty difficult to have pride in your country. Rastas may be more patriotic than we think!
I think Historian’s view is shallow and so typical of the very people that have made and continue to make the lives of Rastas a living hell in Jamaica.
Historian has obviously forgotten that Rastas are not the only people/religion that do not pay homage to national symbols. Jehovah Witnesses do not stand for the national anthem. There must be hundreds of religions whose followers do not consider themselves of this world, and as such look to the afterlife or some other nirvana. If that makes them unpatriotic, then fine, but why single out Rastas?
Does Historian know the History of Rasta? Whose history is the name Historian acknowledging? Rastas have been spat upon from its inception, and even after 70 odd years of existence, they continue to be ridiculed and marginalized by Jamaica and Jamaicans. And you want them to be patriotic? They should look out for Jamaica while Jamaica treats them like dirt??! I don’t get it.
And how is the Rasta’s use of the red, green and gold flag any different from that of Jamaicans hanging the Jamaican flag or colours from the rearview mirrors in the cars? Are they unpatriotic towards the USA? Did you know that Leonard P. Howell, the founder of Rastafari, was a dapperly dressed individual who would adorn his suit with the colours of the Jamaican flag? Yes, black, green and gold! This was as far back as 1934. Still trying to find the significance of this but it is ironic that those colours became our “national colours” 28 years later.
Historian, time to give the Rastas some respect. If there is any group that has made Jamaicans know themselves, find themselves, it is Rasta. If you don’t have pride in yourself then it’s pretty difficult to have pride in your country. Rastas may be more patriotic than we think!
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