By Tyrone Reid, Staff ReporterGIVING TO those that are less fortunate should be a part of our humanitarian duty - note the use of the word 'should'. However, not everyone that is capable of giving does so. So in this day and age, those who do give are often lauded - but should they be? Also, there are those that give with ulterior motives in mind. The important question here is, if you are in a position to give, are you obligated to do so and or should you be treated specially if you do?
"I think it is a little of both, because people in general give donations since as we the people are supporting them by buying their music, they are obligated to give back to those that who are in need," an 18-year-old fan of dancehall said when asked whether donations made by celebrities were a matter of choice or obligation. She echoes the sentiments of many by saying that artistes are obliged to give to the less fortunate.
This point was reiterated by 11-year veteran in the music business, deejay Mad Cobra.
"To me, him affi dweet. In some people's eyes it might be different but if a man really a focus pon life and is grateful, him would know that him owe it to the people," he stressed.
Delly Ranks, another veteran of the dancehall, viewed the situation in a slightly different manner. "Yuh no affi give but ah out a conscience yuh jus' give a ting to help out some people," he said.
Mega Banton supported Delly Ranks' views on the issue.
"I wouldn't say it is an obligation, if him waan give him give, it up to him. It would be good still fi him give back something to the community," he opined.
There is another school of thought which states that many of the celebrities who make donations to the needy do so as part of a publi-city stunt.
George Nooks agrees. The singer told The Gleaner that while he has made several donations to charity, he differs from others in his delivery. "Well, I give and I don't know about anybody else. It's not something I like to talk about. It's from the heart, some people give for publicity reasons," Nooks explained. "If you are donating to an organisation, it doesn't have to be broadcasted."
Producer/song writer from Na-tural Bridge Recording Company, Rohan 'Snow Cone' Fuller, viewed the situation differently from Nooks. "Mi look pon it different. If a man give a hospital a hundred thousand, it fi be known so that the people dem know seh him ah give back something to the society," Snow Cone said. "Yuh have man weh ah mek money and nuh dweet (give to charity) so if a man give a ting from him heart, it fi be known, so that the people can feel justified. When dem (artistes) do di bad tings it ago talk bout, so when dem do di good ting it fi be known."
Known for hits such as Sound Boy Killing and Wrong or Right, Mega Banton had a paradoxical view concerning this particular school of thought. "A man probably want everyone to see he was trying to do something, to let him look good to a certain level, but it also can be that a man a give fi publicity and nah give from him heart," he explained.
Mad Cobra agrees with both Nooks and Snow Cone, but only to a point. "I wouldn't keep a press conference, but if the people who you contribute to wish to let the media and the people know, then it's okay," he said.
Delly Ranks argues along similar lines. "Mi jus give from mi heart, di media nuh affi deh deh," he said. "If the people want to go around and talk about it, they can."
However, for those who are not genuine in their efforts to help the less fortunate, Mega Banton had a few words of caution. "Ah him it a go hurt in a di long run."
Snow Cone was more direct. "If you a give for publicity reasons and not the right reasons, you would be lying to yourself. Remember, is not the amount that matters but the thought that counts."
