THE EDITOR, Sir:
IN RESPONSE to Ian Boyne's article dated July 17, 2005, "Forget It! Red Stripe says no to Beenie and Bounty", I myself have appreciated what Red Stripe has done, but there are a few questions that bother me. Cable & Wireless has backed down, Red Stripe stands, nobody knows why are they still
standing. Is there something the public should know?
Jamaican dancehall artistes are not just now spewing violent lyrics, this has been happening for years. Citizens like myself have been pleading a long time for sponsors to put an end to
supporting and sponsoring these dancehall artistes, for TV
stations to stop showing these videos and for radio stations to stop playing them but it all fell on deaf ears, because we are just ordinary citizens, why should our voices be heard? From time to time you'll see letters to the Editor concerning these lyrics and nothing done.
Any well-thinking Jamaican would agree with me that these lyrics have contributed to violent and criminal activities, note I say "have contributed" but sponsors like Red Stripe and Cable & Wireless still supported them because they brought bucks to their kitty.
VIOLENT LYRICS
Now that the gays have stood up re: violence against them, their voices have been heard. Red Stripe has decided to show some guts and stamina against violent lyrics. Why has it taken the gays for Red Stripe to see what violent lyrics can do and what it has been doing? Or this is done only in the gays' interest but not for the Jamaican public?
The article said that "Red Stripe makes it plain that it's not just concerned about the right to life of homosexuals, but of ghetto people and the poor uneducated youth are likely victims of violence in Jamaica."
When has the life of ghetto people and the poor uneducated youth and other persons who may become victims of violence in Jamaica become a company's concern? Or is it just a sham? And if it is not a sham why
didn't anyone give a listening ear and show some concern before the gays spoke?
Thanks, Red Stripe, for sticking out, but why are you doing it just now?
I am, etc.,
V. HENRY
Havendale
Kingston 19
