RasTafari Love and Blessings to all Sistren,
This past week has been just that - weak in some ways for me. Not on a family vibe but on a works vibe.
I knew that when I started this channel on youtube and started this blog, I would eventually have to deal with negative comments and hateful messages from people who have a difference of opinion or who do not view Rastafari in the way that I bring it across. I haven't had much issues with the latter as yet, but I have in this last week been receiving comments from men who either want to imply that I am racist or that I don't know my research.
It's very hurtful to receive these comments when I work hard at not only trying to maintain a racially unbiased way to speaking, but to also bring all of my personal work and information into the public for the benefit of others who are not as studious. I could have chosen to keep my stack of writings to myself and try to publish them as books for money but I haven't (even though that would be nice lol). I have shared some of my best work only with the intent of spreading hope and inspiration and a sense of wellbeing to all RasTafari.
Not everyone can find the time or even drive to sit and read and research, to write and put together their information - we all have obligations in life that often take away from what is truly most important: feeding the soul with truth and knowing thyself. because I have made it a point to never sacrifice that part of the journey I try my best to share my learning with others in a easy way so that they too may grow and never feel like there's no one out there who they can turn to for reasoning when they need it. Not everyone has a camp or community they can go to and feel the vibes, and for sistren we have purification and children to care for, which reduces our social time even more. when I was seeking years ago I found hardly anything online that could qualify as a strength to the Fari Wombman. and now it has become an inner calling to be that online voice so that younger sistren don't get discouraged and older sistren are encourage to keep keeping on. I am here for you!
I know that everyone has their voice and their right to their opinion, because here I am trying to exercise my own. But why is it that people or these men feel that it is necessary to not only take my words out of context, but to attack? Why belittle my work? I watch youtube videos that I find offensive, or incorrect or degrading. I get really annoyed and rant and rave in the privacy of my home too. But in all that, none of those people could say that I wrote them a nasty or condescending message. I never tried to display "i know more than you." They can't say that I attacked them on a public forum because I disagreed. I am not trying to sound more intelligent than the next one, or act like I know it all! Because you disagree doesn't mean that you have to be publicly aggressive. I will give some examples of what happened this week to upset me - keep in mind that it is nothing extreme, but none the less they were comments that hurt and that made me feel undervalued. It's nothing I won't put behind me, but allow me to rant some more for a moment -
Because someone speaks the truth or fact about a historical matter, doesn't in any way mean that they are racially attacking others. If the Bible was originated in Afrika, and that all the bibles we use today are watered down versions of such made by the Greeks and Romans, how does that translate to me saying that there is no room for whites in Rastafari? how does that make me racist? I try my best to present unbiased information even if I have to speak about black and white or Afrika and Europe. My intent is to relate reasoning and livity to the sistren and brethren who come to my page. In my opinion any race that comes into Rastafari should already know that Rastafari deals with the Afrikan origin and root of everything, there is no escaping that. This was how Rasta was born - in an effort to help black people who were oppressed, it wasn't created out of the needs of white people. But now in this time because Rasta has spread all over the world, all races need to overstand that we are all affected by the same system and the principles of rasta are for all nations to learn and build from. I am not ever saying that Black is more superior than White, what I am saying is that Afrika is superior to all and that we all in our ignorance and wickedness can learn a lot of truth about ourselves from the ancient Motherland.
If I do not promote the use of drugs which are chemically processed and manipulated substances that affect the body and mind negatively, that can kill you, then why shouldn't I also not promote the promotion of drugs in rap music - music that most CHILDREN listen to and are influenced by?
As Rasta we know the difference between drugs and marijuana. we know that JAH's green herb does not kill and not qualify as a drug even if today it has become "medical marijuana". it is natural, not manmade even if there are a lot of genetically engineered strains now. Rastafari do not promote the use of drugs by singing about marijuana. Rastafari do not take drugs by using marijuana. I don't even promote the mixing of marijuana with beer or stout or tobacco!
How can I be called a hypocrite because I don't believe in a rapper's right to promote drugs in his music? Rasta and rappers do not sing about the same thing! What good does molly or coke or whatever else do? what are the benefits of molly? how does it heal disease in the body since it is the same thing as marijuana? IT IS NOT BENEFICIAL TO THE BODY so why should the children be exposed to such damaging substances? why should a rapper feel it is right to lead the children to something that will kill them. what gets me more is that children today do not listen to reggae like they do rap. they will not listen to Black Uhuru or whatever artist that sings about sensimilia - that music is out of their realm and Bob Marley or any Marley does not count!
I was told that they - rappers and any average drug user - just want to get high just like Rastas just want to get high so it's the same. IT COULD NEVER BE THE SAME. I never use herb to "get high." there is a big difference between drugs and marijuana and herb is a
sacrament, a holy plant given to man by the creator. drugs are used to
mimic such plants like herb but they aren't the same because they end
up poisoning the system. For anyone to come and say that Rastafari are
hypocrites for not promoting drugs but promoting the one plant that can
provide a number of benefits to mankind, is a blatant and outright act
of ignorance.
It has never been recorded that any Rastafari child or person has been hospitalized or damaged because of herb or does bad in school or becomes a vagrant because of herb. Rasta don't kill and steal, rape and beat others under the influence of herb. I never use herb with drugs and alcohol, out partying and
drunk and doing whatever sinful acts people engage in when under the
influence of many substances at once. I never use herb and run off the
road and hit a wall or tree. I never use herb and then act violently and
maliciously to people 'just because' I'm suddenly feeling high and carefree. that is ignorance talking!
I have only used herb to give me energy to be creative, to allow me to study and concentrate, to connect to JAH Irits in Ises and Iditation, to get a calm head when I am in a bad mood, or to simply commune with my people in a productive reasoning environment. Herb brings positive energies into the body and mind - real talk. it doesn't make you suicidal or violent or careless. it inspires you to be better. I use herb in a controlled and peaceful environment at all times. there are many many Rastafari in this world who would say the same. one can only wonder when babylon will stop telling lies about the herb so that people can wake up and stop fooling themselves by thinking that drugs and marijuana are the same thing.
So all in all, these are the kinds of comments that came my way this week, and which I know are sent to only make me stronger at the end of the day. I share this post not because I want to rant and rave or pick at silliness, but I want to prove to the Sistren that you cannot let negativity and ignorance ever stop you from pursuing a righteous life or doing what you KNOW IS RIGHT. The test of righteousness is in giving into foolishness sin and ignorance. A righteous soul does not bow to attacks, they step around them, they conquer them. If you are not suffering for your right then you know that you aren't doing enough to be right. it's that simple. So even though I feel down and I feel attacked when all my intentions are with JAH, I will still endure and put my trust in HIM and I will continue to believe that I am doing the right thing. I am not looking for rewards and for people to acknowledge me in good ways all the time though it is encouraging. I am just working to please and increase my personal relationship with my Creator by abiding in truth, and to leave some good mark on this world for those to come.
When feeling challenged I always find strength and comfort in knowing that all good men and women who came before me, and who have influenced me on my trod - Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, HIM and Empress Menen even Yesus Kristos - they all suffered criticism, they all had to deal with people who wanted to see them fall and be silent, they all dealt with people who wanted to squash their goals. We must always give thanks that they maintained their strength and endured the struggle for our sake. It is up to us to do the same for the weaker ones who need to be strengthened and guided back their truth.
So I end here with a quote from the Beatitudes:
The Beatitudes
(Matthew 5:3-110, Luke 6:20-23)
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be
filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for
they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they
revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My
sake.
Rejoice and be exceedingly
glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who
were before you.
Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you, and
when they exclude you,
And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
For indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did
to the prophets.
Who JAH Bless let no man Curse
One love
Ila
