07-15-2014, 10:10 AM
I've questioned returning to JA at times when reading of homophobia, child abuse, murder rate, etc., but think I'm similar to Ohliz (or at least what I interpret from posts here), in that there are many attitudes/beliefs in my own backyard that I strongly disagree with and yet I feel powerless to change them, so if I'm not changing things here, how am I to change things in JA?
Just yesterday I was behind a pickup truck with bumperstickers that made me think "why do we live here?" (the plates were the same county we live in). I won't bother to post the nature of the stickers, b/c I'm not trying to "redirect" this thread. Suffice to say there are opinions, and even laws, that I strongly disagree with here (in the US).
I do believe JA has beliefs on the issues above that few in the US hold. I wouldn't expect to see a 10,000+ church-sponsored rally against repeal of anti-buggery law (or Prof. Bain firing) here. So, yes, there are things about JA that trouble me, but the positives of JA and the fact that there are things here at home that trouble me also allow me, presently, to balance it out. Or perhaps just gloss over. Perhaps issues at home are just an excuse to indulge in what I like about JA.
I will say that not all Jamaicans I've encountered display ugly attitudes in such areas. Most do seem to, as far as violence against gays goes. However, a few years ago when the former teacher in the Negril area (I think he taught at Petersfield??) had his throat slashed, I had a few conversations that surprised me a bit. The newspapers articles heavily implied that he was gay and even hinted that may have been the motive for his murder. It was headline news, so I'm guessing it must've been in the western edition of the Observer. Anyway I had the paper and discussed it with a few people. Many had "him nastiness get him dead" attitudes but 2 others did not.
One guy told me "I don't agree with his lifestyle, but what other people do in private is no concern of mine and no human being should have his throat cut". Another said the former teacher had taught him in high school. He made no comment on the implied sexuality but did say he was sad because he had been a really good teacher and was also well known for his knowledge of natural herbal remedies and it was sad that someone ended his life. That's not exactly an endorsement of JA's rapidly evolving views, but it is not (IMHO) 100% of the people 100% of the time.
Just yesterday I was behind a pickup truck with bumperstickers that made me think "why do we live here?" (the plates were the same county we live in). I won't bother to post the nature of the stickers, b/c I'm not trying to "redirect" this thread. Suffice to say there are opinions, and even laws, that I strongly disagree with here (in the US).
I do believe JA has beliefs on the issues above that few in the US hold. I wouldn't expect to see a 10,000+ church-sponsored rally against repeal of anti-buggery law (or Prof. Bain firing) here. So, yes, there are things about JA that trouble me, but the positives of JA and the fact that there are things here at home that trouble me also allow me, presently, to balance it out. Or perhaps just gloss over. Perhaps issues at home are just an excuse to indulge in what I like about JA.
I will say that not all Jamaicans I've encountered display ugly attitudes in such areas. Most do seem to, as far as violence against gays goes. However, a few years ago when the former teacher in the Negril area (I think he taught at Petersfield??) had his throat slashed, I had a few conversations that surprised me a bit. The newspapers articles heavily implied that he was gay and even hinted that may have been the motive for his murder. It was headline news, so I'm guessing it must've been in the western edition of the Observer. Anyway I had the paper and discussed it with a few people. Many had "him nastiness get him dead" attitudes but 2 others did not.
One guy told me "I don't agree with his lifestyle, but what other people do in private is no concern of mine and no human being should have his throat cut". Another said the former teacher had taught him in high school. He made no comment on the implied sexuality but did say he was sad because he had been a really good teacher and was also well known for his knowledge of natural herbal remedies and it was sad that someone ended his life. That's not exactly an endorsement of JA's rapidly evolving views, but it is not (IMHO) 100% of the people 100% of the time.