THE EDITOR, Sir:
LANGUAGE REFLECTS the culture of a people. As our beliefs, values, attitudes and mores change, our language changes. Words become obsolete, new words and expressions are added, words extend their meanings and some old words acquire new meanings. With this in mind, prompted by the fact that the international body known as Human Rights Watch wants the Jamaican Government to repeal the law against buggery, I decided to do some research on the word buggery.
As expected, the older dictionaries had different meanings from more recent ones.
For example, The New Grolier Webster Int'l Dictionary (1971) gives the meaning of buggery as the crime of bestiality or sodomy. However, in dictionaries published in recent times, the meaning of buggery is simply anal intercourse. Some dictionaries give the meaning as anal intercourse with man, woman or animal.
The two meanings given by the Encarta Concise Dictionary Student Edition (2001) reflect current thinking by gay rights activists 'highly offensive term for anal intercourse'. The use of buggery with this meaning is also taboo, according to this dictionary. The other meaning given is an offensive term used as an intensifier and this is regarded as slang.
Obviously, Jamaica is out of step with current trends. As a nation, we are coming under pressure to be homophile meaning advocating homosexual and lesbian rights, supporting homosexual men and lesbians and appreciating their culture, (Encarta Concise Dictionary).
It is wrong to abuse another human being physically, emotionally or otherwise and everyone should have equal protection under the law, regardless of his or her sexual orientation. However, people have the right to refuse to embrace, endorse or condone buggery.
Who will protect the rights of those persons who do not wish to embrace homosexuality? We need to set up an international body with the mandate to balance human rights. We cannot afford to watch some human beings trample on the rights of others as they fight for theirs. We may need to coin new words to name this body.
I am, etc.,
WINNIE ANDERSON-
BROWN
winab@cwjamaica.com
Bagatelle District
Ashley P.A.
Clarendon
