THE EDITOR, Sir:I HAD THE great good fortune and pleasure to hear Mutabaruka on "The Cutting Edge" radio show Wednesday night replying to an anti-Rasta Gleaner article published that day, and I found his comments so satisfying that I share the gist of them here.
The article claimed that Rastas were 'dreaming' by still revering His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie, Ras Tafari, 38 years after his mortal presence exited the physical world.
Muta said that if this was a criticism, then Christians were even greater 'dreamers' who were still waiting after 2000 years for the return of Jesus Christ.
If Rastas were stupid for their unceasing yea, increasing adoration of His Majesty, were Rastas more stupid than Christians, Muta asked, who have been waiting an even longer time.
The only Rasta 'dreamers', Mutabaruka said, were those who continued to tie their reverence of Selassie through the Christianity they grew up with, or by claiming that Selassie is "Christ returned".
He advised them to give H.I.M. his own accreditation as their spiritual inspiration without having to drag along the 'baggage' of Christian myths and legends and the scandals associated with the religion over the centuries.
He said the works of Selassie I, his life and the spiritual inspiration that Rastafari has spread across the world in his name to influence more and more people and peoples, has its own validity and veracity.
Muta asked if, or when, the series of articles against Rastafari religious beliefs would be directed towards the Jewish faith, which does not recognize Jesus Christ as the Messiah or as their God-in-Man.
He asked whether, if Christianity was such a perfect example, any Christian could show him a place or country that is a perfect example of Christianity. In fact, he said, most of the war in the world was run by Christians.
The writer had quoted two books in which he said the Emperor had been criticised and his dethronement justified.
Muta replied that not only did he sell those two books in his shop, but that he also sold hundreds of other books that contradicted the information in those two books.
Finally, the writer had professed himself a student of the great Jamaican author, J. A. Rogers, claiming this gave him greater Afro-centric knowledge than Rastas.
Muta said the writer could not be a very good student, as J. A. Rogers in his classic 100 Great Men of Colour had selected H.I.M. Haile Selassie as the penultimate Great Man, declaring in the final sentence of the chapter: "Behold the perfect man."
Thanks to Muta for an interesting and informative earful.
I am, etc
BARBARA MAKEDA BLAKE HANNAH
emaskel@hotmail.com
P.O. Box 727, Kingston 6
Via Go-Jamaica
