Posts from — December 2010

Ilan Greenburg, a journalist based out of New York, has written a two part article within the last year regarding homosexuality in Jamaica, both highly critical of what, in short he perceives as follows:

“… in no arena is dancehall—and Jamaican society overall—more troubled than in grappling with sexual orientation. Blaring on most street corners and from car radios, dancehall’s virulent homophobia, a curdled hatred for homosexuals explicitly and pervasively articulated in the music’s lyrics and deeply entrenched in dancehall culture, foments a quotidian reign of terror against Jamaican gay people.”
I want to state first and foremost that I am not in support of any bias against homosexuals. Quite frankly my opinion is who, where and when someone chooses to have sex is a private matter that should remain that way-as long as it involves consenting adults. I am however disgusted and outraged at the idiotic manner in which (usually) American journalists/media people want to summarily dictate how Jamaicans should act, legislate and think.

Why is Jamaica continually singled out? While I don’t condone the official or unofficial position of the Jamaican government and the people-my people-on homosexuality, I am in 100% support of the right of Jamaica as a sovereign nation to make those decisions, without interference, criticism or the moral high horse of the USA. Let’s not forget for a second that this country cannot quite figure out how to deal with the same issue of discrimination against gays in their own house. Or am I the only one who has heard all of the rhetoric and sparring back and forth regarding gays in the military and the stupid “don’t ask don’t tell” policy?

I have to question why aren’t magazines such as Guernica, who published this piece by Mr. Greenburg, asking the same questions of other countries? Several other countries that enjoy very, very favorable status with the US and its people; countries where-just like Jamaica- homosexuality/buggering is a criminal act-are never singled out for criticism, discussion, rancor or debate the way Jamaica is. Its not even mentioned by American officials and the crusading journalists aren’t asking why that is.
United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Pakistan, Trinidad and Qatar are some of the countries with laws currently on their books criminalizing homosexuality. In Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Saudi Arabia they punish ‘offenders’ with life in prison (25 plus years) or the death penalty. These other countries legally persecute and execute homosexuals or alleged homosexuals much more than the small section of Jamaica’s 2 million people that have and would be engaged in that sort of activity.

Just this week, Sepp Blatter, the head of FIFA, the regulatory body of soccer opined when asked if he could foresee any cultural problems with the tournament being held in Qatar.

His response: “I’d say they [gay fans] should refrain from any sexual activities,”

Where is the indignation, calls of boycott, and crusading journalists swooping down on Qatar, Blatter and FIFA for this malfeasance? What say you, Mr. Greenburg? Or is your righteous indignation only narrow enough to focus on Jamaica?

Anti-homosexuality (buggering) laws, mostly vestiges of the British colonial legal system in Jamaica and many other places, are archaic and quite simply wrong. England, the historical purveyor of many of these precedents and laws changed their own laws in 1967, more than 40 years ago. But when media people such as Mr. Greenburg write about violence and hate towards homosexuals, they always, invariably focus on Jamaica. Never Pakistan. Nor Saudi Arabia. No mention about the other islands further down in the Caribbean with very harsh penalties against gays. Whether these laws are enforced in these countries is not the point or issue. They exist so the assumption correctly should be that they can be enforced at the discretion of law enforcement. My issue then is simply this: what is the real agenda behind continuously singling out Jamaica?

Jamaica and Jamaicans have a right to govern their country as they see fit. The fact that some, not all Jamaicans don’t pretend to offer the blatant lip service that many, many parts the USA and its people do towards those who are different is not to be applauded, but bears noting. What gives anyone in these great United States the right to pass judgment, to scream for boycotts and agitate?

The system in Jamaica will and has to change from the inside, not from the high handed gobbledygook of a country that has shown its own twisted reluctance to fully embrace its own issues with the subject of homosexuality.

Get back to me when America is fully ready to stand and commit to the moral standard it talks about but invariably fail to live up.

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In Jamaica, the US and other areas of the globe, we had all kinds of events, beefs, indiscretions and political shenanigans making headlines.

The Gulf oil spill, Kathryn Bigelow’s historic Oscar win for Hurt Locker (L) the Haitian & Chilean earthquakes, Duke winning the NCAA title, Spain winning the World Cup, US qualifying for the knockout stage with a thrilling win over Algeria, The Dudus extradition fiasco and the resulting riots in Tivoli Gardens, Toyota recalling millions of vehicles and then losing the throne of top automobile seller to Ford, the meltdown of the Greek economy and then in December the Irish economy, bedbugs take over New York, Chilean miners trapped for months and eventually all freed alive; exhibiting bravery that many of us could only dream about, Air Jamaica is sold to and rebranded as part of Caribbean Airlines, the Manatt affair and the US midterm elections that served as a political bitch slap to President Obama’s policies….(rahtid a whole heap dat!)

Buju Banton’s drug trial, the Wikileaks fiasco, ‘The Decision’ of Lebron James, Nikki Minaj elbowing her way to the forefront of hip hop consciousness, Antoine Dodson becoming a viral sensation, all of these events made 2010 a remarkable and memorable year.

The recent student upheaval in England, opposition to the rising cost of a college education will be a major political issue next year. (Personally I found it refreshing to see the royals rattled!) It will be interesting to see if that government survives the fallout.

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One thing’s for sure, 2010 was not short on excitement! In Jamaica, the US and other areas of the globe, we had all kinds of events, beefs, indiscretions and political shenanigans making headlines.

Let’s go over some of the headlines:

The  Gulf oil spill, Kathryn Bigelow’s historic Oscar win for Hurt Locker, the Haitian & Chilean earthquakes, Duke winning the NCAA title,  Spain winning the World Cup, US qualifying for the knockout stage with a thrilling win over Algeria, The Dudus extradition fiasco and the resulting riots in Tivoli Gardens, Toyota recalling millions of vehicles and then losing the throne of top seller to Ford, the meltdown of the Greek economy and then in December the Irish economy, bedbugs take over New York, Chilean miners trapped for months and eventually all freed alive; exhibiting bravery that many of us could only dream about, Air Jamaica is sold to and rebranded as Caribbean Airlines, the Manatt affair and the US midterm elections that served as a political bitch slap to President Obama’s policies….(rahtid a whole heap dat!)

Buju Banton’s drug trial, the Wikileaks fiasco, ‘The Decision’ of Lebron James, Nikki Minaj elbowing her way to the forefront of hip hop consciousness, Antoine Dodson becoming a viral sensation, all of these events made 2010 a remarkable and memorable year.

What does the future hold? Well, there are several things worth watching. Next year will mark the half-way point of Obama’s presidency. He is beset on all sides by opponents, Democrats and Republicans alike. While I think he will be able to bounce back popularity wise over the next 12 months, He will have to do a much better job of pushing domestic policy and delineating to the masses directly for it to be successful. He didn’t create the financial mess we are in now, but it’s now his mess, so he will need to do a better job of trying to fix it.

The recent student upheaval in England, opposition to the rising cost of a college education will be a major political issue next year. (Personally I found it refreshing to see the royals rattled!) It will be interesting to see if that government survives the fallout.

Also in Europe, a familiar name is flexing its muscles as the biggest economic engine in Europe. Germany is again a major part of the EU, but their government is not solidly behind the single currency. Considering the predicaments of the smaller European economies (Portugal, Ireland, and Greece) who will vie for position alongside Germany?

In Jamaica proper, what, if anything will be the continued fallout from the Manatt Levy fiasco? I have to admit, I am even more disappointed by the JLP’S performance since their election victory than Obama’s first two years. That situation if its drags through the upcoming year will be a political albatross for the party and with it an uncertain future for Jamaica.

The best that can be hoped for is that 2011 presents a lot more happy endings like the safe rescue of the miners and less sad news like the earthquakes. Someone famous once said “Its darkest before the dawn,” and while it’s pretty dark right now, there’s hope for a better tomorrow. Or as we say in Jamaica ‘better mus come.’

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