Gleaner's associate editor on no to theocracy

Byron Buckley wrote

Church Picking On Gays

ALAS, PRIME Minister Portia Simpson Miller has named her Cabinet, notwithstanding the fear and hysteria expressed by some clergymen during the recent election campaign, about the possible inclusion of homosexuals in her administration.

 

Indeed, the overwhelming political mandate, in terms of seat count and geographic spread, given to Mrs Simpson Miller and her party is perhaps a rebuff to those who sought to vilify her position that she would appoint persons to Cabinet positions based on merit rather than sexual orientation.

It is shameful and scandalous for a Christian to support the victimisation (beat the B-man) and discrimination (job denial) of homosexuals and any other groups of persons.

The Christian community in Jamaica is grappling with the dilemma of how to embrace homosexuals while not condoning their sexual orientation and lifestyle.

Why do Christians regard homosexuality as an exceptional or grievous sin?

It is in a Christian's 'DNA' to object to homosexual practices. After all, homosexuality runs counter to the natural principle of procreation established by God. Copulation by Adam and Eve (not Steve) ensures the continuation of the human race. In underscoring this point, God, through Scripture, has regarded homosexuality and bestiality as morally reprehensible.

unnatural, sinful and inimical

Throughout Old and New Testament Scripture, God has expressed displeasure at men and women engaging in unnatural sexual acts with persons of the same sex. The Bible has even come out against men behaving effeminately. Importantly, the Bible forbids other kinds of sexual immorality, including fornication, incest, divorce/adultery and prostitution. Indeed, St Paul told Christians at Corinth that persons who practised homosexuality, adultery and idolatry, among other sins, would not enter God's kingdom.

So, the Church is on message in its opposition to homosexuality. And this article is not a call for the Church to abandon its teaching and stance against homosexuality as unnatural, sinful and inimical to procreation and family life as designed by God.

However, this is a critique of the Church's extreme and selective attitude towards homosexuality and those who practise it - which is contrary to Christians' mission to share the good news with ALL.

New Testament writers refer to homosexuality as part of sexual immorality in general. So to be consistent, the Church should oppose, with equal energy, adultery, fornication, wife-swapping, incest, paedophilia and the high rate of broken marriages. The Church can't cherry-pick its favourite sin to oppose. Homosexuals see straight through this double standard and ask, 'Why discriminate and victimise us?'

What's the real reason Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed? Although Christians often point to the destruction of these cities as caused by rampant homosexuality, there is reason to believe the practice was one of a suite of sinful behaviours that God found offensive. The Hebrew prophet Ezekiel explained the iniquity of Sodom and Gomorrah as pride, fullness of bread (material wealth), abundance of idleness (hedonism), lack of care for the poor and needy, haughtiness and abominable (homosexual) practices.

transformative mission

So, again, Christians have chosen to take their own meaning or emphasis from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. A more apt message to take away is that as a society, we should ensure that material prosperity does not cause us to descend into an orgy of immorality and sensuality. We should also ensure that we take care of the disadvantaged, the poor and needy. This is why Christians should never be found in the position where they are supporting harm being done to anyone - especially with the Church's dismal record during the Crusades and the transatlantic slave trade.

The transformative mission of the Church requires it to display a higher standard of behaviour towards homosexuals. Christians should be leading the way generally in protecting the welfare of homosexuals. Christians can't join the rowdy chorus of 'kill or beat the B-man.' The challenge for the Church is to establish a caring and grace-filled environment that enables it to share the transformative gospel with homosexuals as well. Jesus Christ came to heal the broken-hearted and set the captives free - in short, to transform lives.

The Church cannot be selective about who it ministers to, nor can it place boundaries against groups - such as homosexuals - as if they are beyond God's love.

I believe while there are persons who have accepted their homosexual orientation, others have not. This is where the Church has a mission to offer counsel and healing. But a condemnatory stance by the Church will only drive away such persons who are likely to be befriended by the wrong crowd.

The homophobic (I deliberately choose this word) reaction by some church leaders and Christians is tactically foolish. In the grand culture war and cosmic struggle between good and evil, Christians must secure victory with the weapon of love, which will bring transformation to individual lives.

Maybe Christians have adopted a hard line against homosexuals because, in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, God destroyed, rather than mercifully saving them.

But that's not the full story: Sodom and Gomorrah could have been saved if there were enough righteous people there! In the final analysis, no matter how repulsed Christians are by the haughtiness of some homosexuals, we should leave their fate to God.

In the meantime, we anticipate the PM carrying through her campaign promise to debate and review the law against buggery, allowing legislators to vote according to their conscience and upon their constituents' advice.

No doubt, the voice of the Church and faith-based community will be heard. After all, Jamaica is a pluralistic society as well as a robust democracy. And I prefer this to a theocracy.

Byron Buckley is an associate editor at The Gleaner. The views expressed in this article are not necessarily those of the newspaper. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and byron.buckley@gleanerjm.com.

Schools must be safe for everyone — even gays (Observer Letter)

Dear Editor,


As the parent of a child with special needs, I must admit to having an affinity for children with "differences", particularly those with high levels of vulnerability. It is no wonder then, that I believe schools should be safe zones for all within their walls, regardless of ability or beliefs.


My most recent challenge has been an 11-year-old, seemingly engaged in a gender struggle. This boy openly talks of his preference for wanting to be a girl and to do girly things (to the disgust of others), uses bathrooms for females, and tries to walk like a girl. He tells me that he doesn't talk about his feelings to his mother as she goes crazy when he attempts to do so.


Many of you are already thinking that maybe he was molested, he needs counselling, or why not just beat it out of him? No, it doesn't appear as if he was molested, and you may all be right, or you may be dead wrong.


The fact is that he may have been born gay — there is enough scientific proof that some people are just born gay — maybe some kind of biological mishap such as irregularities in hormones. But more important, this child could be our son! Are our institutions safe for him? Our schools especially must be safe for all students. Would we want our son in an education system where teachers are insensitive to a child like this? Where students routinely think it's okay to bully him — verbally and physically? Where his mother is worried about school placement at the next level (high school) based on present experience?


Many people unfortunately, even educators and misguided guidance counsellors (and there are many who confuse religion with counselling), will object to any civil rights policy or policy for the accommodation of diversity in education which even mentions gay students. They will probably opt for "Don't ask, Don't tell", but too often you can tell, or think you can, without asking, and children, even at the primary school level, suffer the consequences, as they become the object of all-round prejudice and derision.

The confusion which already exists in the child is compounded by the treatment being meted out to him and he searches for understanding and acceptance. But he won't find it.


Patricia E Johnson
victory99967@yahoo.com

ENDS

Notes:

Commendable Miss Johnson agrees that safe spaces ought to include everyone to use words such as "mishap and gays" is just so wrong. If they are born that way then they are born that way, she damaged her argument right there.

I trust she has received some responses from other readers who are in the know to help her process some of this new information as she will have to adapt to using more appropriate language especially when addressing a very impatient lgbt population in some instances to include no nonsense activists.

I forwarded some links to the sister GLBTQJA blog that has some transgender information videos and links to literature. I hope she takes the time to digest it, it's persons like these who can become a part of the gay/str8 alliances to fight homophobia.

Peace and tolerance

H

Barbara Gloudon: "It isn't the gays who've sent him to prison, despite all the Boom-Bye-Bye controversy. It wasn't because he's a black man from Ja"

Tenky Barbara Tenky at least the sensible folks who watched the trial and observed the real issues are speaking out, here is Playright, one time actress, journalist and Radio Jamaica's Hotline Program Host Barbara Gloudon saying it as it is.
For the folks looking for someone to blame then blame Buju himself, he messed up indeed, read the transcript as his own words defiled him.

As taken from the transcripts themselves in the conversation between himself and the informant (Buju didn't know it at the time) he seems clearly interested in doing business, get the full 62 paged document here: http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2010/PDFs/banton.pdf he referred to snitches and that he didn't event trust the privacy of the very conversation he was having then with the man named CS.

Miss Gloudon says:

Buju must face the music

YOUR FAVOURITE Buju song? Mine is Sudan. No other artiste has sung with so much feeling of a country's pain. Today, who will sing for Buju? There's been almost a child-like belief by supporters here and in the diaspora who convinced themselves that he would've been acquitted to return home to a hero's welcome and to live happily ever after.

If the story had gone that way, I would have been as delighted as every Jamaican who has revelled in his awesome talent - the sensitivity of his lyrics and his ability to hold the audience with riveting performances... but life doesn't always go the way we want. Buju might be one of our beloved icons, but in the eyes of the American legal system, cocaine talk ain't funny. He messed up and when you mess up in their jurisdiction, you pay for it.

I don't know how deep ran the cool and controlled exterior which "the Gargamel" exhibited after the announcement of the guilty verdict on Tuesday afternoon. There was a classiness in the wording of his statement (here abbreviated). "Our life and our destiny are sometimes pre-destined... I fought the good fight..." The cold fact, however, is that, despite his fight, our hero is likely to do time, unless some really cataclysmic upset occurs at the sentencing.

All things equal, he has more years ahead of him. He is now 37 years old. In another era, he'd be well on the way to middle age. Today, even while extreme youth is revered, at 37 he is not over the hill yet. What must be in the minds of those who now contemplate his future? How will he survive those years, and is this the end of him, as far as a career goes? What a cruel twist of fate to get the Grammy and not be on the outside to reap the rewards!

On Tuesday night, I went home from a very long day's demands to find on the TV a programme produced by National Geographic and presented on HBO, highlighting life in America's prisons. "It is not an easy road", Buju sang in another time, and prison is not easy, no matter how clean and shining everything appears from the outside looking in.

Floors were scrubbed and highly polished, walls were clean, prisoners wore uniforms which seemed to be in good condition. The meals, it was said, wouldn't rate high in nutritional content, but at least they were regular. Beyond the neat and tidy façade, however, there were the stories of fear and intimidation, injury and even violent death, despite the watchfulness of correctional officers. The worst thing about "doing time", it was admitted, is the mind-numbing dreariness of the daily routine and how easy it is to lose one's humanity. Buju will live to regret the silliness of his defence that his conversations about drug-dealing were all a joke. Pity he couldn't have remembered the hometown saying: "What is joke to you is death to me."

It was in that context that I thought of what could lie ahead for this talented son of ours who, in all probability, will become yet another statistic, another caged bird with no occasion to sing. Some will try to tame that jaunty Jamaican walk. It's nothing to joke about. It is too late to contemplate the alternative: "Guilty, with explanation."

The outpourings of heartfelt wishes, the prayers from home and abroad for miraculous deliverance from the likely darkness ahead are well-placed, but reality has to be faced. Time to stop the delusion. It isn't the gays who've sent him to prison, despite all the Boom-Bye-Bye controversy. It wasn't because he's a black man from Jamaica. The sad truth is - our beloved hero messed up. We all wish it wasn't so.

The article continues HERE

gloudonb@yahoo.com

meanwhile here is a short precise letter to the hypocrisy effect in the Jamaica Observer as well:

Hypocrisy about Buju

Editor,

I cannot understand why so many people continue to display such blatant hypocrisy in their continued support for Buju. Most of those who support him continue to think that he was set up by certain interest groups. Few consider the possibility that he is actually guilty.

Many say that he was tricked into committing a crime. This is total rubbish. Buju himself admitted that he was stupid for allowing himself to get involved in this drug deal. Too bad for him - that is no excuse for committing a crime. Now he is going to do the time. What's wrong with that?

Unlike Jamaica, the American justice system, with all of its imperfections, does work. We need to grow up. Justice must be for all, including reggae stars like Buju.

Michael A Dingwall
Kingston
michael_a_dingwall@hotmail.com

So it go

Peace and tolerance

H

US Promotions Co hits back at "Fire" for Bashment Granny ....

Popular entertainment promoters Irish and Chin based in New Jersey in the United States have come in for some flack in having promoted Bashment Granny some time ago, of interest for this post is the response by them to the notion of harboring or associating with "Battybois" and a reference to a particular dancehall artist as well who is rumoured to be gay.

Here is an excerpt from the then answer in 2009, (WARNING! Strong Language):

"It is no surprise that my recent attempts to produce growth and broaden the fan base of the Irish and Chin brand would fuel mischief for some whose sole purpose is to see my company fail. The latest gossip among the industry's society of "career wreckers" is.......Irish and Chin retires from the clash arena to endorse the "Batty Man” ting! For real though!!! You haters need to quit. How many times do you haters want us to score on you? At least play some stronger defense!! Y'all haters tried this faggot shit on us two years ago when we started managing Mr. Vegas. Remember? Allegations were spread throughout the hardcore industry that we left the arena to manage a "Batty Man"

-- insinuating that Irish and Chin will do anything for money! I must admit it was a great point attempt, but y'all never scored!!!! In fact, we made a strong name as a management company. Now tell me -- what was the crime in managing Mr. Vegas? The fact that Killa said Vegas was a "Batty Man!!" Come on..... y'all have to do better than that!

Now, the haters are at it again with the "Batty Man" topic....hoping that Bashment Granny 2 brings them more luck than the Mr. Vegas saga. Can they be anymore fuckin’ stupid? Bashment Granny 2 is currently the hottest play in Jamaica and is rumored to be Jamaica's biggest production to date. The play consists of a nine-person cast. According to certain people in the industry, one of the actors is a "Batty Man." Nevertheless, such accusations are not my concern. We hired a cast, not one individual rumored to be a homo.

This play is currently touring Jamaica's 14 parishes for the second time. Each staging on the Island has been sold out! Record breaking numbers of up to 10,000 seats for a single performance have been sold. Outside of Jamaica, the hype is even greater. The play is touring more than most artists in the industry. Right now, the most requested DVD from Jamaica is Bashment Granny 1.

So, I guess this means...... all the persons in Jamaica (over 100,000) that have attended Bashment Granny 2 are into the "Batty Man” ting. Think again!!!!!! In fact, more than half of the same haters, who are trying to mix Irish and Chin up in the Batty Boy shit, have a few members in their family that went to see Bashment Granny already! And the other half is trying to purchase advance tickets for my show in Amazura (laughing).

I have to admit -- the “Haters” love Irish and Chin! World Clash had them talking, Irish and Chin’s management team has them talking, now this play shit is game point motherfuckers!!!!"

Serious Business now playing in New Jersey


It was only last night June 26th that Shebada's current smash, Serious Business played to local theatres in New Jersey again promoted by Irish and Chin. (Flyer to the left)

Well it is good to see that despite the perceptions and however you wish to view Keith "Shebada" Ramsey the business prerogative is far more important as the statement above pointed out the popularity of the comedian and cast is just undeniable as he portrays his character very well in my view.

I doubt if we have had such open backlash locally since Shebada and the various productions have been steadily gaining momentum, strange that in the United States of all places where freedom of expression is so espoused and differing lifestyles are tolerated to a far more extent we should see this kind of crap coming through.

What was heartening were the comments to the post on Irish and Chin's page many persons were dismissive of the negative remarks allegedly levelled at the promotions team while of course there were the usual "sell out" insinuations as well.

Here is an interesting one in particular to an earlier comment made in the thread:

warhead 2009-06-05 08:15
"mike.... you stupid ass!! shebada is a actor,his part was,nt to fuck batty!!! but his part is to have a sense of humor,something that u dont have.when jamie foxx used to dress like a woman and act like a woman in living colour is he gay too? thats the part he as to play...alot of artist bleach!!! r they gay too? mike when ur cocky fail yuh, and woman nuh want yuh,yuh go suck cocky fi support yuh broke self."

Rather insulting at the end part but the gist is basically that Shebada the lead character as appearing on the flyer with the pencil is only playing a part. As we all know his role is a very effeminate one but it's ridiculously funny though. He has gotten alot of mainstream media attention both here in Jamaica and abroad and with the movie set for release by the end of 2010 many of his fans are eagerly anticipating it.

So what if he is gay he is good in terms of roots play performance delivery why are we so hung up on who he sleeps with? Nearly all lead actors in roots plays and by extension other plays usually have to act out an effeminate lead character anyway, let's not forget Chu Chu (mi is a newsss carrier!!!!!) in Passa Passa acting in full drag. Here is a clip from an old ad for the show, he is attired in the blond wig. Jamaicans love their hysterical entertainment.



Here is a classic Serious Business advert:


Peace and tolerance

H