Talk:Persecution of Rastafari

Reasons for persecution

It might be hard to distinguish between persecution of real Rastafari and "poseurs". For those who have genuine religious beliefs and follow strict dogma, including (for example) an ital diet, I would expect that the degree of persecution would be somewhat less than those who "dabble" in the religion by picking and choosing only the "fun" parts such as cannabis use and reggae music. It would seem to me that these "fake" Rastas bear the brunt of persecution, and cause the faithful to be misunderstood and looked down upon. Bulbous 16:06, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

Must disagree, it should be seen vice versa - other way arround. "Poseurs" or maybe "Reggae fans" are parts of their original culture and are just subculture, or the audience to some extent (e.g. in Europe). However, the ways of the roots music is such is that even those "poseurs" tend to change their living and take the teachings of Rastafari. Maybe in the early youth its a "enjoy the cannabis" thing. Reggae itself does not promote use of ganja for fun, but for spiritual meditation.

Also, we can divide "prosecution" up to Jamaican independece, when Rastas have been seen as Black Supermacists (which at that time Nyabinghi order has been) and threat to the Royal crown, thus often imprisoned and killed.

Some of the incidents are disctruction of most of Rasta camps, such as Back-O-Wall.

After the independence, and Selassie visit, they have gained much more respect (as well as after the Wailers success) but still are often downlooked, seized and persecuted by police. Ganja laws seems easy - but what kind of law breakings is personal use of the herb? Its easy to search Rasta and hold him as a criminal.

Outside of Carebean and Africa, black or white (or yellow like Japanese to that matter) face the stigma of a destructive cult (which they aren`t). So, there is much to be told here, and delete proposal mostly come from ignorant people not willing to explore or understand the subject.

A scholarly books like Howell`s "The Rastafarians" or such songs as Morgan Heritage - Questions (just uploaded to the Tube) can easily provide resources and documents, testemonies of it.

I will quote the full lyrics of the tune here:

Intro:] And these are the questions That we Morgan Heritage ask all people No matter your race or your walk of life No matter your faith or your religion It's very simple, they're just two questions Rastaman ax the questions

[Chorus x2:] Could you live through what the ancient Rastaman live through (live through) Would you hold on to your faith if you been what they been through (Check yourself, check yourself)

[Verse 1:] Imagine being locked away in a prison cell For eighteen months for burning your holy sacrament And your country's leaders tell their police and soldiers To hunt you, beat you or kill you at will They'll ask questions later

[Chorus x2]

[Verse 2:] From the hills of the East to the cities and plains The Father's work remains one in the same, yeah Been through the shame, persecution and blame All because we glorify Haile Selassie I name

[Chorus x2]

[Verse 3:]

Into persecution and blame So much shame...

[Nyabingi drums]

And this is what we do To keep our vibes (you know) To keep our heavens clean and positive When the struggle gets hard From that time till this time The journey has been long and we still try But this is the vibration that has sustained I & I The children of Rastafari And by giving continuous Iziz to our God and King We have received steadfast strength that shall carry us trough this I war It's more strength and more prosperity More blessings to life When you truly believe in Holiness of the most High Rastafari

[Chorus x2]

Rasta History http://rastaforever.tripod.com/rastafari/

Ras Voja

Hmm, not sure I agree with any of that. There is no question that in the early days the rastafari were severely persecuted for their dreadlocks, their herb use and just being Rastafari. My own experience is if you put up a picture of HIM people think you are a herb smoker, which in some countries is far more serious than in others, SqueakBox 16:21, 22 December 2006 (UTC)

I'm sorry, I should confine my comments to modern times. The problem as I see it is with some people who enjoy smoking cannabis and also enjoy reggae music. Knowing that they have at least that much in common with Rastafari, they self-identify as such, even though they may not have any use for the rest of the philosophy, or even know who Haile Selassie is. It is such people who earn the enmity of others, and probably rightfully so. It would be not unlike someone self-identifying to be a Mormon for the sole purpose of have multiple wives. Bulbous 00:03, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

Well I definitely consider myself in the category of people you are criticising. Yet I have learnt most of what I know about Rastafari through listening to reggae music's conscious lyrics while under the influence as a youth, and that is unquestionably how I learnt about HIM. Surely it is by listening to reggae while stoned that on learns about Rastafari. I wouldn't openly identify as Rasta living in a country where possession of herb, while not generally enforced, carries serious consequences, and where my reputation is critical to what I am trying to achieve, building up an off shore business, so I certainly feel unable to openly identify with Rastafari except I dont have a problem pumping out reggae music. Dreadlocks or pictures of Selassie I could have serious consequences, but maybe I am not actually the type of person you are criticising, not being young or with a rebel attitude, SqueakBox 16:59, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

So, how do we seperate persecution of the Rastafari from persecution of cannabis users? Or are you suggesting they are linked? Bulbous 21:01, 25 December 2006 (UTC)

I definitely think they are linked though I believe the authorities would argue they persecute Rastas not because they are rastas but because they break the cannabis laws, SqueakBox 00:36, 26 December 2006 (UTC)

Squeakbox, how is it in Central America? Dreadlocks seem to have won acceptance in the United States, they rarely turn heads any more. ፈቃደ (ውይይት) 17:14, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

Well my wife's uncle cut off his long locks when he returened to Honduras after years in the States, and later told me if he had known I was going to give him a job he wouldn't have done so but with his only apparent options being to return illegally to the States, or get a job here he decided to cut them (I know people get criticised for that but I dont really buy that myself). When I said to my wife how about wearing dreadlocks she said it wouldn't be socially acceptable for her to do so, though her social circle is definitelt not middle class. Amongst the majority Spanish speakers Rastafari is almost unknown so when you do see people with dreadlocks they tend to be English speakers, mostly with experience of the US. There are a couple of young lads in the local colonia with dreads but it is pretty rare. I think for me it wouldn't be the police so much as the lawyers, bankers and local businesses as well as businesses in the UK (with whom we do business) that would make me nervous to wear dreadlocks or do anything that would make them associate me and my business with the herb (whereas I am not worried in the same way about wikipedia as I only let my family and good friends know which editor I am here), SqueakBox 18:43, 24 December 2006 (UTC)

Merge proposal

This stub has no references whatsoever and has undergone negligable development since its inception. It seems to have survived a group AfD simply by being a member of a group (i.e. not on its own merits). Also, the main article makes no reference to persecution whatsoever, so more information is needed there. As developed, information in the main article could lead to the need for an article here, but currently there is no such need. Bulbous (talk) 03:55, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

I Disagree there has already been much confusion in the article the Rastafarian Movement barely has any other pages to learn about significant events in the faith. It definitely must be kept. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.157.74.136 (talk) 01:55, 27 September 2008 (UTC)