THE EDITOR, SIR: IS IT art imitating life or is it life imitating art? Does it make a difference? Would it make a difference to you if a loved one was brutally murdered because of his/her sexual orientation or profession? Would it matter if the next day you hear a song preaching for the killing of homosexuals or 'Babylon Boys'?
The fact is that the entertainment industry on a whole has a significant influence on the action of young and old alike. Whether or not a song that advocates violence toward another human being is a figment of the writer's imagination or reality is of no consequence, if in that song, the villain is made out to be the hero.
It is very ironic to hear radio personalities appeal for peace and good sense to prevail in our beloved Jamaica when they are the ones playing songs that venerate 'Spanish Town Badman', preach violence against homosexuals, and promote defiance and disrespect toward the security forces. One popular song refers to the members of the Portmore Police Station (100 Man) as 'nobody's'. Songs that endorse the smoking of marijuana, which is still illegal in this country, is a regular feature on our local radio stations at various times of the day. And we wonder why there is no co-operation between the police and the citizens. When will the media take a stand and recognise that their role in the society is far more than entertainment?
I sincerely hope that other entertainers learn from the experiences of entertainers like Shabba Ranks and Buju Banton. It is a pity that the media could not have forced our entertainers to clean up their acts before drawing all the negative attention to our already tarnished image abroad which they have helped to create. I don't want people to believe that I am saying for one moment that the music industry and the media are responsible for all the ills in Jamaica. What I am saying is that they contribute, along with many other things.
I am, etc.,
CURTIS JONES
Curtisjones70@hotmail.com
