Rastafarians Praise Government for Revoking Ban

DdC · 11-03-2003, 12:21 AM

Road Town, British Virgin Islands -- Rastafarians in Tortola for a weeklong summit praised the new government for revoking a law banning their entry to the British Virgin Islands.

The 23-year-old "Rasta Law," removed in August, ordered immigration authorities to refuse entry to Rastafarians and "hippies," most commonly identified by their dreadlocks.

"I thank (former Chief Minister) Ralph O'Neal for keeping us back for so long because it made us strong to come now," Ras Bobby, a Rastafarian from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, said late Saturday.

O'Neal was the author of the 1980 ordinance and repeatedly refused to lift the ban despite public pressure to do so. The Legislative Council struck the order from the books after a survey determined most islanders were in favor of removing it, officials said.

Chief Minister Orlando Smith, who won elections in June, was scheduled to give a speech to open the ninth annual summit of the Barbados-based Caribbean Rastafari Organization on Saturday night in this British Caribbean territory.

Instead, Communications Minister Paul Wattley addressed the 200 Rastafarians from around the Caribbean, saying many islanders "see the members of this movement as untidy drug smokers, engaging in criminal activity and other forms of anti-social activity."

Wattley urged delegates to use the conference to dispel that image.

But many attending the event said discrimination was still prevalent.

"When it comes to getting certain jobs, I might have to trim my hair," said Kiyode Erasto, a Rastafarian from Antigua who gestured to his dreadlocks that fell well below his shoulders.

"We regard marijuana as one of our holy sacraments," he added. "We also use it as medicine."

Despite a call from Wattley that delegates respect the territory's laws, which criminalize marijuana use, the scent of the drug permeated the air at the opening. No arrests were reported.

Throughout the Caribbean, Rastas say they are unjustly blamed for crime and looked down upon for using marijuana, which they believe brings them closer to God. The religion also espouses peaceful coexistence and staying close to nature, which can mean not combing or cutting one's hair.

Panel discussions during this week's conference also will focus on lobbying for European reparations to the descendants of African slaves, and African acceptance of those descendants as citizens.

Rastafarianism emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s, with the descendants of slaves angry over colonial oppression of blacks and attempting to reconnect with their African roots. The religion was popularized in the 1970s through reggae artists such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.

An estimated 700,000 people practice the faith worldwide. Some sects believe their god is deceased Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie.

Complete Title: Rastafarians Praise New BVI Government for Revoking Ban

Source: Associated Press November 02, 2003

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DdC · 11-03-2003, 12:23 AM

Give Thanks And Praise Jah Time Is Now!
This is a beautiful thing for Rastas I-very Where. Not only is this a beautiful day for Rasta, it is a sign to all men and women that the oppressors are not the root of evil, but mere humans who have been mislead. Even oppressers will grow weary from the energy that is drained from them in their efforts to promote ill feelings. What is even greater is that they who oppress can also rise up and change for a greater power. Good does dwell in the heart of all men; some just have a longer road to trod before they find the good within. I&I are the chosen people and the train has many empty seats waiting to be filled. One Love to all the people of the herb.
Sellassie I Jah Ras-Tafari The Living God. Ras-pect, RasAric a.k.a. Eric Nicholas Knudsen

12-21-2004, 07:40 AM

thanks...enjoyed reading those...much better understanding

atantricchic · 12-21-2004, 11:08 AM

Excellant article... double thank you!!

11-03-2003, 12:21 AM	#1 (permalink)
DdC Decade Yahookan Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Santa Cruz,CA,USA Posts: 2,117 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 51 Thanked 607 Times in 399 Posts	Rastafarians Praise Government for Revoking Ban Road Town, British Virgin Islands -- Rastafarians in Tortola for a weeklong summit praised the new government for revoking a law banning their entry to the British Virgin Islands. The 23-year-old "Rasta Law," removed in August, ordered immigration authorities to refuse entry to Rastafarians and "hippies," most commonly identified by their dreadlocks. "I thank (former Chief Minister) Ralph O'Neal for keeping us back for so long because it made us strong to come now," Ras Bobby, a Rastafarian from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, said late Saturday. O'Neal was the author of the 1980 ordinance and repeatedly refused to lift the ban despite public pressure to do so. The Legislative Council struck the order from the books after a survey determined most islanders were in favor of removing it, officials said. Chief Minister Orlando Smith, who won elections in June, was scheduled to give a speech to open the ninth annual summit of the Barbados-based Caribbean Rastafari Organization on Saturday night in this British Caribbean territory. Instead, Communications Minister Paul Wattley addressed the 200 Rastafarians from around the Caribbean, saying many islanders "see the members of this movement as untidy drug smokers, engaging in criminal activity and other forms of anti-social activity." Wattley urged delegates to use the conference to dispel that image. But many attending the event said discrimination was still prevalent. "When it comes to getting certain jobs, I might have to trim my hair," said Kiyode Erasto, a Rastafarian from Antigua who gestured to his dreadlocks that fell well below his shoulders. "We regard marijuana as one of our holy sacraments," he added. "We also use it as medicine." Despite a call from Wattley that delegates respect the territory's laws, which criminalize marijuana use, the scent of the drug permeated the air at the opening. No arrests were reported. Throughout the Caribbean, Rastas say they are unjustly blamed for crime and looked down upon for using marijuana, which they believe brings them closer to God. The religion also espouses peaceful coexistence and staying close to nature, which can mean not combing or cutting one's hair. Panel discussions during this week's conference also will focus on lobbying for European reparations to the descendants of African slaves, and African acceptance of those descendants as citizens. Rastafarianism emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s, with the descendants of slaves angry over colonial oppression of blacks and attempting to reconnect with their African roots. The religion was popularized in the 1970s through reggae artists such as Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. An estimated 700,000 people practice the faith worldwide. Some sects believe their god is deceased Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie. Complete Title: Rastafarians Praise New BVI Government for Revoking Ban Source: Associated Press November 02, 2003 Related Articles Rastafarians Gather in Jamaica for Summit Rastafarians Struggle With Discrimination Bill To Legalise Ganja for Private Use Soon Yeah, man. It's time to let de people get good herbs and smoke. Government's a joke. All dey wan' is ya smoke cigarettes and cigar. Some cigar wickeder den herb. Yeah, man, ya can't smoke cigar. Smoke herb. Some big cigar me see man wit', God bless! Me tell him must smoke herb." Bob Marley Cancer Patient Charged with Pot Use Prohibition Ignores Benefits "Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." Thomas Jefferson Ethiopian Coptics Rastafarian MC Mystic Google Rasta Religious Freedom "Puritanism: the haunting fear that somebody, somewhere, might be having a good time." --H.L. Mencken "freedom' of religion" RELIGIOUS USE DEFENSE May 28th, 2002 Rastafarians hit it big in pot fight Religious use calls for marijuana The Religion of Jesus Church Evidence Indicating the Semitic Origin of Cannabis It's a joke. Greed and the desire to take drugs are two separate things. If you want to separate the two, the thing you do is make drugs legal. Accept the reality that people do want to change their consciousness, and make an effort to make safer, healthier drugs." Jerry Garcia Rolling Stone Nov. 30, 1989 Church of the Universe Universal Life Church Ministries Cannabis Culture Archives: Sacrament Sacramental Cannabis U.S. law enforcement spends $7.5 to $10 billion annually enforcing marijuana laws. According to the FBI, 720,000 Americans were arrested on marijuana charges in 2001. Keith Stroup, (NORML) How FIJA Saved My Life! Erowid Freedom Vault : Jury Nullification DEA Raids MMJ Garden of L.A. Patient Sister Somayah October 10, 2003 WAR ON PONY TAILS The Drug War Is A War Against Counter Culture "Our problems stem from our acceptance of this filthy rotten system." Dorothy Day Poverty? Dubya Says Blame the Hippies! Protest To Preserve Denmark's Hippy Enclave Hippy Cafe a Mellow Spot "In a civilised society, it is the duty of all citizens to obey just laws. But at the same time it is the duty of all citizens to disobey unjust laws." - Martin Luther King Jr. WHO ARE THESE hippies and what the hell do they want? Thank God for Hippies They've outlawed the number one vegetable on the planet. TIMOTHY LEARY Hippie Peacenik photo album! "The media's the most powerful entity on Earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses." Malcolm X Tennessee commune going for three decades Hippy Land Hippie Magazine I have always loved marijuana. It has been a source of joy and comfort to me for many years. And I still think of it as a basic staple of life, along with beer and ice and grapefruits - and millions of Americans agree with me." Hunter S. Thompson The Great Marijuana Hoax by Allen Ginsberg Tommy Chong Gets Nine Months "Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing" Federal Bureau of Narcotics Chief Harry J. Anslinger, 1948 PREJUDICE: MARIJUANA AND JIM CROW LAWS Conservative Addiction Good! Liberal Addiction Bad! "I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?" - Willie Nelson The Ultimate Hypocrasy NORML's Marijuana Health Mythology

11-03-2003, 12:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
DdC Decade Yahookan Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Santa Cruz,CA,USA Posts: 2,117 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 51 Thanked 607 Times in 399 Posts	Give Thanks And Praise Jah Time Is Now! This is a beautiful thing for Rastas I-very Where. Not only is this a beautiful day for Rasta, it is a sign to all men and women that the oppressors are not the root of evil, but mere humans who have been mislead. Even oppressers will grow weary from the energy that is drained from them in their efforts to promote ill feelings. What is even greater is that they who oppress can also rise up and change for a greater power. Good does dwell in the heart of all men; some just have a longer road to trod before they find the good within. I&I are the chosen people and the train has many empty seats waiting to be filled. One Love to all the people of the herb. Sellassie I Jah Ras-Tafari The Living God. Ras-pect, RasAric a.k.a. Eric Nicholas Knudsen __________________ Al Capone and Watergate were red herrings to divert the countries attention from the Fascist acts of eliminating competition. Booze/Ethanol then Ganja//Hemp.

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12-21-2004, 07:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
kamikazi89 Guest Posts: n/a	thanks...enjoyed reading those...much better understanding

12-21-2004, 11:08 AM	#4 (permalink)
atantricchic Property of Big D. Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Trillville Posts: 6,262 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts	Excellant article... double thank you!!

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