THE EDITOR, Sir: WHILE ARTISTE Beenie Man's gesture of donating a bounty of $1,000,000 toward catching the killer of 'Bogle' may be commended, I strongly would want to see something more lasting and positive coming out of the music industry. After we have caught these killers, if we continue to glamourise revenge and murdering persons who disrespect us, we will have more killers being bred. How many more millions will you be willing to give out?
USING MUSIC
I say use 'Bogle's' death to plant a seed of positivism within the dancehall industry. Let us make a vow to no longer sing songs, play songs, or support the songs that would suggest destructive activities such as the murder of another.
Look at the other Caribbean islands, why do they have such low crime rates? Cubans are very sensuous, why? Listen to their music, it is songs about romance.
St. Kitts had one murder for the year 2004. This was a cause for alarm in that country. Do you know what their music industry did? They had one of their prominent artistes release a song We Don't Waan No Crime.
Rise up artistes of Jamaica, the security forces cannot do the job because the music industry has more power than any other group in Jamaica.
You have the power to reach the very psyche of the people. All the inner city community children know your lyrics; they use them to argue with each other.
If you doubt me, spend an hour in any inner-city school. During recess, listen to the youths they are replicas of our dancehall artistes, handling conflicts the same way the songs that they know (word for word) have taught them.
Yes, musical artistes and representatives of the Jamaican music industry, the lyrical content of your music does have an effect on our youths. Please, let us take back the country that we love so much.
Let us sing about peace and love only. Let us remind our youths that there is a God; let us sing only positive messages.
REDUCE INCIDENCE OF MURDER
We know that the Jamaican music industry is adamant that the lyrical content of the music is not contributing to the increased
violence in the society.
But what if you are guilty? For a year or two let us censor anything that is not promoting the theme of love and development of our youths even in the dancehall and see if there will be a change.
We have tried everything else, now concerned Jamaicans are asking for your help. Help us save this country.
Dance hall artistes in Jamaica let us use fallen icon in the music industry, 'Bogle's' death to build something positive. Let us build Jamaica and reduce the incidence of murder through positive music.
I am, etc.,
N. RUSSELL
A patriot of Jamaica
