Rastas must embrace their role in politics
Published: Monday | December 19, 2011 1 Comment

THE EDITOR, Sir:

Many adherents of the Rastafarian faith hold that politics is evil and thus they do not participate in elections. I find such a position regressive.

No modern society can exist and move forward without an organised political institution. I believe it would be fairer to say they do not participate in the electoral process of Jamaica because of the experiences of the Rastafarian community, especially under the Jamaica Labour Party's administration of Hugh Shearer and Alexander Bustamante.

However, the Rastafarian community must not scoff at politics itself because it is an essential component of any society.

Indeed, the individuals who are held in the highest regard among the Rastafarian community are politicians. Haile Selassie I was emperor of Ethiopia; Marcus Garvey founded the People's Political Party; and Leonard Howell and Ras Sam Brown, and countless others, were politicians.

How then does the Rastafarian community validate the position that politics is evil and, therefore, not participate when the greatest inspirations to the Rastafarian community are politicians?

One of the most attractive features of the Rastafarian community is the constant articulation of issues that deal with politics. The very music of Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Sizzla, I-Wayne and other Rastafarian musicians are predominantly political in nature.

By Rastas submitting to such a position, the community will see slow or no progressive movement on issues that affect them. The decriminalisation of marijuana, and building stronger relations with Africa through trade, are both political issues. Access to education, health care, jobs, equitable treatment in school and society, and effective people representation, are political issues.

I urge members of the movement to realise how integral they are to the changing of their own circumstances, not just on an individual and community level, but through the national political process.

Until the Rastafarian community immerses itself in the greater, more effective process of national politics, the issues of the community will not be represented.

OMAR RYAN

omaryan@live.com

VP, Mona Law Society